Franken's lead now 49 votes

Posted: Wednesday, December 31, 2008 10:39 AM by Carrie Dann

From NBC's Carrie Dann
A quick update from the Minnesota Senate recount: AP reports that Democrat Al Franken is starting the last day of 2008 with a 49-vote lead over Norm Coleman. That's revised from a 50-vote lead yesterday, after the Secretary of State's office updated its numbers last night.

But the tussle between Coleman and Franken attorneys over rejected absentee ballots is set to continue into the New Year. The two camps are locking horns over the size of the pile of improperly cast-aside ballots to be counted, with the Coleman team hoping to add over 600 more to about 1,350 currently designated by county officials.

** UPDATE ** As we wrote Monday, the Coleman campaign has given the green light to about 750 of the 1,350 rejected absentee ballots designated by county officials as improperly discarded. The remainder of those 1350, they say, should be up for additional review before being counted. The Coleman team also argues that the additional 650 that they hope to add to the consideration pile would ensure county by county "uniformity" among all ballots formerly rejected.

Skeptics of the tactic point out that the additional 650 ballots that Coleman would like to add come from counties that heavily supported the Republican in the November election.

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Comments

Expect Republican monkey business.....

'...As the window closes on Norm Coleman's chances for retaining his seat in the Senate, some conservatives are beginning to envision life without the Minnesota Republican.

In a filing on the conservative website, NewsMax.com, author David A. Patten looked at the numbers and saw in them a Coleman-less Senate.

The counting of improperly rejected absentee ballots will probably increase Democratic challenger Al Franken's lead over incumbent GOP Sen. Norm Coleman according to a new analysis of voting trends, effectively relegating Coleman to filing lawsuits considered unlikely to reverse the outcome of the election.
Others on the right are not ready to accept defeat. National Republican Senatorial Committee Chair John Cornyn released a statement on Tuesday indicating that some GOP senators would resist seating Franken before the courts have their say, even if the Democratic challenger is declared the winner of the recount. "I expect the Senate would have a problem seating a candidate who has not duly won an election," Cornyn claimed...'

Big Bad John, as per his campaign commercials
Texas voters set the bar pretty low, don't they ?

Is the Republican plan obstructionism ?
You can't dance without a partner
If the Republicans want to obstruct... ROLL THEM OVER

MSierra, SF (Sent Wednesday, December 31, 2008 10:50 AM)

'...But the shoe also fits on the other foot. Coleman is mired in ethics scandals surrounding his alleged failure to report $75,000 in payments his family received from a prominent GOP financier and close friend. The FBI is reportedly investigating the matter and it stands to reason that the Senate Ethics Committee will follow suit. The last thing Republicans in the Senate want is a corruption controversy hounding one of its members, especially after the party's image suffered terribly from such matters in '06 and '08...'

You forgot to mention the free rent and the free clothes...
Were those declared on his tax returns ?

MSierra, SF (Sent Wednesday, December 31, 2008 10:55 AM)

SEE YOU SOON IN D.C. AL. WAY TO GO AHE !

Z (Sent Wednesday, December 31, 2008 11:00 AM)

It's so funny that Franken is now the leader in the vote count and hopefully he will have the last laugh over ranting coleman. No doubt coleman will be a sore loser who will try to tie up this seat in court as long as he can. The repugnant ones put themselves first and the country last.

Happy New Years!

Eric, Salinas, CA (Sent Wednesday, December 31, 2008 11:04 AM)

Why is this taking so long. Can they not count in MN? I believe Franken will win. Coleman will then sue for various reasons ... just to vent his frustration. The lower courts will demur to the State Supreme and they will issue a summary judgement in favor of Franken. Finally, this mess will be over. Thank god all elections are not like this. The Democrats will be closer to full control ... which they will take in 2010 no matter what happens now. The GOP is dead.

cerrojim (Sent Wednesday, December 31, 2008 11:27 AM)

Actually it was a Dumb idea for the courts to expect the two sides to find a reasonable solution. When you have an impass, that's why you need a court to decide.
Stating the obvious, Franken is not going to let Coleman find 50 votes and Coleman will want to flood the count to improve his chances. It's time to seat Franken and start paying lawyers for court time.

Ron Indiana (Sent Wednesday, December 31, 2008 11:35 AM)

Remember how Coleman said if he were Franken, he would have conceded? Let's see what happens after the final count should show Franken the winner. Will Coleman concede or head to court?

Aaron, Waukesha WI (Sent Wednesday, December 31, 2008 11:53 AM)

The only way Coleman wins is if our Bush Supreme Court steps in some how. Then Coleman wins faster than a 2000 US Supreme Court can say stop counting those votes.

Rob Harrington (Sent Wednesday, December 31, 2008 12:02 PM)

You're good enough, You're smart enough and doggonit, people like you. Congrats, Al.

russ sholle, stow, ohio (Sent Wednesday, December 31, 2008 12:08 PM)

Tne people of Minnesota are IDIOTS! Nuf said....

Lance (Sent Wednesday, December 31, 2008 12:13 PM)

ITS A TOTAL SAD DAY IN AN ELECTION THAT SHOULD BE COUNTING ALL VOTES. WHEN YOU HAVE 1300 ABSENTEE BALLETS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN COUNTED AND THERE IS A CANIDATE THAT DOESNT WANT ALL THE VOTES COUNTED.

I THOUGHT ALL BALLETS ARE COUNTED NOT JUST A SELECT FEW. IT ISNT FARE FOR PEOPLE TO VOTE AND NOT HAVE THEM COUNTED, THATS NOT THE AMERICAN WAY WE SHOULD BE WHEN IT COMES TO VOTES WHO VOTED. THEY SHOULD BE COUNTED.

ITS TOO BAD COLEMAN IS A SORE LOOSER AND NOT WANTING ALL VOTES COUNTED JUST SELECT ONES THAT HELP HIM AND NOT THE REAL CCOUNT. THATS NOT HOW WE RUN ELECTIONS.

JOE GLAYTON GEORGIA (Sent Wednesday, December 31, 2008 12:16 PM)

Does any fair-minded person have concerns about what’s going on in Minnesota? Throughout the recount, the state’s majority Democratic political machine has been grinding away in Franken’s favor. From a dispute over double-counted ballots, to the treatment of rejected absentee forms, Coleman has lost every major dispute with Secretary of State Mark Ritchie, a Democrat, and the state canvassing board, which is controlled by Democrats. Unsympathetic judges have rejected Coleman’s appeals. Is Coleman wrong on every single front and Franken right? Or is their some scale tilting going on here?
Additionally, for all you so concerned about Colemans needle threading faux scandal, were you at all equally or more so with Franken under reporting his taxes? For heavens sake, I know that athletes and entertainers must report earnings in every state they operate and i'm not either. Anyone calling for an inquiry there? No, nevermind?

Hugh (Sent Wednesday, December 31, 2008 12:18 PM)

I am tired of Al Frankin being defined as a comedian only. Al had his own political radio program for a couple years that was extremely erudite and intelligent and he has also penned three books on the right wing world. I consider him very qualified to represent "for the people" politics , persuasive, articulate and yes he is witty, which is a good thing. We are going to need our sense of humor in this increasingly serious world.

Mark Spiegel (Sent Wednesday, December 31, 2008 12:19 PM)

This is just another attempt by the left to smear Coleman. He is not mired in ethics scandals as MSierra has posted. Nice try. As for Minnesota, there has to be some really dumb people living up there. First it was Ventura, now it's Franken. Experience and qualifications don't matter to them.

KBrown, Altus, OK 73521 (Sent Wednesday, December 31, 2008 12:20 PM)

Just another unbelievable fight over which candidate won. Note: another demonstration of why our voting system and it's and accountability of acuurate results demonstrates we should have full overhaul of the entire system.

Michael D. Jones Springboro, Ohio (Sent Wednesday, December 31, 2008 12:23 PM)

That's easy - he'll head to court. It always easier to play Mr. Righteous when you are ahead.

Media Mechanic, Portland, OR (Sent Wednesday, December 31, 2008 12:30 PM)

You mean Norm isn't interested in uniform fairness for all voters? Just the white pentecostal born again ignorant ones need be counted eh norm?

Sick of Republican shenanigans (Sent Wednesday, December 31, 2008 12:49 PM)

Stever (Sent Wednesday, December 31, 2008 12:49 PM)

coleman is showing he is a sore loser. he will be going to court soon. he should concede and save his party the dirt of a scandal.

ace (Sent Wednesday, December 31, 2008 1:08 PM)

Well, if Franken does win (and I am crossing my fingers that he does), I will be happy to throw back in Republican faces, the four words they were happy to spout after the 2000 election fiasco - "GET OVER IT"!

ELaine, Minneapolis MN (Sent Wednesday, December 31, 2008 1:15 PM)

"I expect the Senate would have a problem seating a candidate who has not duly won an election," Cornyn claimed...'

__________

Why should they? The White House did it for the last 8 years.

JT (Sent Wednesday, December 31, 2008 1:23 PM)

As for Minnesota, there has to be some really dumb people living up there. First it was Ventura, now it's Franken. Experience and qualifications don't matter to them.
KBrown, Altus, OK 73521 (Sent Wednesday, December 31, 2008 12:20 PM)
______________

The job description does not list any job requirements other than being a certain age, and residing in that state for a certain amount of time. If both have been met, the candidate is qualified. There is nothing that says you had to have held previous offices of any kind first. Get over it already.

Jackson, Seattle (Sent Wednesday, December 31, 2008 1:30 PM)

Count every absentee ballott. Count everything that came in within 24 hours of election day. Then, whoever has a lead is the winner. It's called democracy, and this BS about legitimate ballots being bargaining chips because of technicalities makes me see red. Franken and Coleman, be honorable men. Agree to count every single ballot. Then both accept the WILL OF THE PEOPLE. It shouldn't be that hard.

cmac (Sent Wednesday, December 31, 2008 1:31 PM)

Elaine, isn't "Get Over It" three words? lol

Paul, Westminster, MD (Sent Wednesday, December 31, 2008 1:40 PM)

OH PLEASE! Al Frankin? You want Al Frankin? How about Joe Piscapo or some other completely out of touch Hollywood Idiot who doesn't want to have to work for a living. Next it'll be "Stewart Smalley for President!!!" You'll be sorry.
Stever (Sent Wednesday, December 31, 2008 12:49 PM)
________

Al has been a political commentator, with a radio show, for years now. Just exactly what makes you say he is "out of touch".

Sounds to me like you are the one who is out of touch.

Jackson, Seattle (Sent Wednesday, December 31, 2008 1:41 PM)

From the beginning of the recount it was obvious that the canvassing board was going to see to it that Franken won. First they find some votes in an election judges trunk, then some in a basement and on-and-on. Amazingly, they all were for Al. How blind do you have to be not to see this?

Ed, Salt Lake City, Utah (Sent Wednesday, December 31, 2008 1:49 PM)

Remember the old printer's sign: speed, cost, quality -- choose any two? Well, that's the Minnesota recount: accuracy, transparency, speed -- choose any two. As the canvassing board examined contested ballots, photocopies were projected for spectators to examine, and the proceedings were shown live on the web. I for one admire the job Mark Ritchie and the canvassing board have done, and believe it's been remarkably apolitical. Makes me proud to be a Minnesotan.

Nancy Jones, St. Louis Park, Minnesota (Sent Wednesday, December 31, 2008 1:54 PM)

Stever: You misspelled Franken. Joe Piscopo just has to run and New Jersey will consider him. As for "Stuart Smalley for President," Franken created him, so it's Sen. Smalley to you.

Funny for the party of Reagan to complain when entertainers enter politics and their first run is a statewide office.

Dana Blankenhorn (Sent Wednesday, December 31, 2008 1:57 PM)

Two words for Stever and others who say Minnesota is filled with idiots for considering a "Hollywood Idiot": Ronald Reagan.

Dave, Estes Park CO (Sent Wednesday, December 31, 2008 2:02 PM)

I guess nobody remembers that Sonny Bono was a State Representative from California. And if my memory serves....Gopher from Love Boat was in Congress as well.

Demo-cratic Pugnant, Mesa, AZ (Sent Wednesday, December 31, 2008 2:04 PM)

I'm with CMAC--every ballot should be counted, and let the chips fall where they may. I hope they fall in Franken's direction, but it's most important that the results be fair and honest. Oh, and count me as one of those highly amused at members of the party of Reagan, Schwarzenegger, Bush, and Palin spouting off about "Hollywood Idiots" and lack of qualification.

Mary, Alexandria, VA (Sent Wednesday, December 31, 2008 2:14 PM)

1. Minnesotans are not idiots
2. Al Franken is a thoughtful,informed,generous,and.
intelligent(Harvard Grad) man.
3. He will enrich the United States Senate
4.Thank God he did not turn his back on the good people of Minnesota who voted for him and concede to Coleman,allowing yet another right wing nut job to steal an election.

deb,mn (Sent Wednesday, December 31, 2008 2:17 PM)

Has Coleman's political luck run out? I don't know, his history is so shaky that anything could happen. In the past, he's proven himself to be a hack with his own agenda. Just watch the youtube video where he tried to railroad George Galloway regarding the Oil for Food Program and you'll get an idea of what his aims are. That testimony was so damaging that Coleman had it struck from the Congressional record. We have significant problems in this country, ones we've never faced before. The last thing we need is another corporatist neocon working against the reform this country needs in order to survive. His ilk will sit by giving the away the store to their cronies while Rome burns. He's a dinosaur. When are the REAL conservatives going to take back the Republican trainwreck and get this country back on track?

Stephen B, Wailuku, HI (Sent Wednesday, December 31, 2008 2:19 PM)

I have seen some of the ballots rejected for coleman and they were clearly for him and yet rejected by the democrate machine in charge. This recount is very dirty but we have grown to expect this crap from the communist democrates in charge. They run the place like things are run in the middle east. Its amazing all those ballots suddenly located after they lost the election. I can't believe we are turning into the third world in my lifetime. Makes me sick to my stomach.

Bryan Zunker (Sent Wednesday, December 31, 2008 2:27 PM)

We had Ronald Reagan...look how HE turned out.

Deficit spending, commenting about bombing the Soviet Union while the mic was hot, treason (Iran-Contra), arming the SAUDIS and SADDAM HUSSEIN.

Before you spout off on Hollywood liberals, think about Hollywood CONservatives.

Jim Rousch (Sent Wednesday, December 31, 2008 2:46 PM)

Republicans hate America.

Nuff said.

Jim Rousch, Littleton, CO (Sent Wednesday, December 31, 2008 2:48 PM)

Elaine,
"the four words they were happy to spout after the 2000 election fiasco - "GET OVER IT"!"

I now understand the caliber of people voting for Franken up in MN, last time I counted "get over it" was only three words, not four. I hope your not helping with the recount.

M. Knightley Columbia, MO (Sent Wednesday, December 31, 2008 2:50 PM)

Every vote should be counted. The 2 candidates should have nothing to do with the process, other than to oversee the votes are counted according to the law. Now, there is but one small problem...the elected officials created the law that oversees the vote counting. Does anyone not see that this country is full of elected officials, and I mean the vast majority, who NO LONGER REPRESENT the people. Taxation without representation. No one needs any qualifications any more. This lazy unpatriotic country elected a senator with all but no experience as a senator to the highest office in the land. There are crooks on both sides of the aisle. The majority of these elected officials would be fired in the real world simply due to poor attendance. The ones that do show up for work never get anything done with any expediency. The next time the ballot gets around to you, vote the incumbent out. Do this at the local level first and target any and every incumbent. One last comment, if you do side with a party, side with the one that is against paying it's citizens a wage for nothing. That would be neither Democrat or Republican as each are doing nothing to save this country from the socialist state is is quickly becoming. People! Find out who George Soros is and what the World Trade Organization is doing. Your freedoms are in peril.

Pdub224 SO CA. (Sent Wednesday, December 31, 2008 2:50 PM)

Republicans just spouting their venom because they are all sore losers. Get over it! The republican party is dead only Pat Buchanan lives on through his memories of being a has been. Who do you think has caused the awful mess that the country finds themselves in, along with the rest of the world - think about that republicans.

Katie Denver, CO (Sent Wednesday, December 31, 2008 2:54 PM)

I was born and raised in MN and I can attest that state has a very engaged and informed population. Remember, this state has some of the best public schools in the country. Also, You would have had to be in the state at the time to understand the political climate and why Ventura was elected...and remember Norm Coleman was vying for that seat and lost. With that said, I'd like to point out a couple of things about Norm Colman which rubbed me the wrong way from the get go:
1) Norm Coleman was not born and raised in MN...I have met him and he does not fit the mold of Minnesotan well. Al Franken on the otherhand is from MN.
2) Norm Coleman won his first office in MN as a DEMOCRAT while riding on the coat-tails of Hubert Humphrey's son!!(He attentded politcal fund raisers for Humphrey and tried to garner support from Democrats at those events, playing himself off to be a democrat)

3) The only reason Norm Coleman ran for Senate is beacuse he was asked by the republicans in 2002. He really wanted to run for Govenor (which he lost to Ventura first time around), but was asked to run by the republican party so they could have a majority in the senate.
4) The only reason Coleman won the senate seat was because Paul Wellstone was killed only weeks before the election
I think Norm Coleman should go back to the east coast and try to win an office legitamely there. Minnesota is not the place for him and as the examples show above, he is not a man of integrity. I hope Franken wins this seat and Coleman finds another place to "play" political games.

Angela (Sent Wednesday, December 31, 2008 3:05 PM)

Stever, You mean kind of like Ronald Reagan!

Mike Shepherd Lee's Summit Missouri (Sent Wednesday, December 31, 2008 3:11 PM)

As usual the media here is trying to make it look like it's the Republicans that are the ones messing with the election, funny how every day Franken digs up another vote until finally he is in the lead. How much money has he spent doing that and how many has he paid off? This election nation wide has been so phony, what happen to that investigation into all that ACORN corruption. The Democrats are buying this election across the country legally or illegally it makes no difference to them, mostly illegally and they had a great leader on how to do it illegally, from the corrupt Chicago political machine, Obama. We're going to prove that corrupt phony isn't Constitutionally qualified to sit as President of this country.

FL Rochester, NY (Sent Wednesday, December 31, 2008 3:31 PM)

Al Frankin and Obama together in one sentence! What a joke the next four years is going to be.

Frankinbama, Ca. (Sent Wednesday, December 31, 2008 3:31 PM)

I think the fact that closeness of Minnesota's Senate race in Minnesota is more of a reflection on Coleman than Franken. Coleman has more political experience than Franken, yet this race is anything but decided. Oh well, so much for Republicans being the hope of America. Lately, they've just become a symbol of our problems.

charles McKenzie, Alton IL (Sent Wednesday, December 31, 2008 3:32 PM)

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