It seems that the Minnesota Senate race between Norm Coleman and Al Franken is headed for an automatic recount under the state’s election law. There seems to have been little trouble with the count in Minnesota, increasing confidence that Coleman’s slim lead will survive any fair scrutiny. Al Franken’s lawyer however, has already declared that the count is suspect. And the sole evidence appears to be the fact that Franken lost:
“The odds are that something went wrong with respect to counting.”
That’s what Democrat Al Franken’s campaign counsel, David Lillehaug, said this morning about the prospect of a pending statewide recount in yesterday’s U.S. Senate election in Minnesota. ”We want to make sure that each ballot that was cast is counted appropriately,” he said.
Here’s my question: how can we have any faith that the Franken team is seeking a good-faith and honest count, when they start from the assumption that the current count is wrong?
Minnesota recently completed a manual recount in a statewide race; 7 votes changed out of more than 100,000 cast. Some in Minnesota have attributed the high accuracy rate to the dependability of the state’s voting machines. If that’s accurate, then a recount in the Coleman/Franken race would be unlikely to change the result. Indeed, to the extent that there were any irregularities in the Minnesota election, it seems likely that Franken would be the beneficiary — since ACORN seems to have engaged in questionable voter registration practices (as they do most everywhere), and they endorsed Franken.
It looks like Franken has decided that being nasty has gotten him this far; he might as well ride it a little further.
Daniel Horowitz
Neil Stevens
Moe Lane
Steve Maley
Jake Walker
Coleman
Yil Wednesday, November 5th at 3:36PM EST (link)Well, Coleman appears to be arguing that there is “too much at stake for a recount.” Since such a slim margin mandates one by law I can’t see he’s coming across as fair or even smart either.
keep us posted
Doc Holliday (Diary) Wednesday, November 5th at 4:10PM EST (link)but I have to say, the race was basically a dead heat, that is all I need to now about the people of MN. First Ventura, now this, maybe these guys deserve Franken, they deserve to be made the butt of jokes on a regular basis.
Molon Labe!
Actual quote?
DRP Wednesday, November 5th at 4:14PM EST (link)And if so, got the source? Because “there is too much at stake for a recount” is probably the silliest thing I’ve ever heard if he actually said that.
Of course if there were any shenanigans in Dinkytown
bk (Diary) Wednesday, November 5th at 4:39PM EST (link)that wouldn’t be seen as a problem by Mr Franken. In fact, any U of M voting/counting “methods” should serve as the model for the rest of the state no doubt.
They smeared Coleman to make it close
walter_hanson Wednesday, November 5th at 5:12PM EST (link)Doc:
Since you don’t live in Minnesota the Democrats were doing everything they could to smear Coleman.
They linked him to Stevens of Alaska.
They accused him of being in the pocket of a lobbyist because he lives in a million dollar mansion (um he rents a basement room)
A phony lawsuit got created the last week of the campaign where an out of state business was accused of giving money to Norm’s wife.
When Norm fired back saying his wife was off limits he was accused of breaking his promise to do a positive campaign the last month.
This led to a lot of disgusted people voting for Dean Barkley (the thing that helped get Russ Feingold elected in his three way race)
Furthermore if the Democrats had been smart enough to elect anybody about Franken Coleman would’ve suffered a loss like Rick Santorm suffered in 2006 even though Rick was a very good senator for 12 years.
Walter Hanson
Minneapolis, MN
yea?
EastCoastObserver Wednesday, November 5th at 5:36PM EST (link)I heard the same thing. Too much at stake? Doesn’t make any sense when MN law mandates that a recount MUST happen in this situation. Little shady…
gridlock
Common_Cents (Diary) Wednesday, November 5th at 6:14PM EST (link)Coleman said the accuracy of the machines would make it unlikely for Franken to win in a recount being down a 700 some vote margin. I think it’s within the margin of the MN law about recounts.
Coleman didn’t oppose a recount but said it was up to Franken. I think it was a smart play to declare himself winner and put the ball in Franken’s court. In a recount, Coleman’s margin will probably INCREASE, LOL.
The process will take several weeks.
I voted for Coleman but with the turnout of the overall election I almost later hoped Franken would win to go down w/ the Dem ship.
Obama=Golfer in Chief, Leading from,
behind, the Back Nine.Leaders don’t create movements. Movements create leaders. Get involved. Your future depends on it.
Govt “invests” YOUR tax money for POLITICAL return rather than economic return.
of course I was too broad sir
Doc Holliday (Diary) Wednesday, November 5th at 7:04PM EST (link)I am sure proud American conservatives from MN are just as good as anyone else. It is not your fault there seem to be a lot of loons there. Let’s be honest though, what other state would even let the guy in the race?
Molon Labe!
Theres a reason our state bird is a....
merkurfan Wednesday, November 5th at 10:09PM EST (link)Loon..
Coleman stepped in it today. Said he would not file any suits, or contest the recount. Or really monitor it. Franken will “find” the votes he needs during the recount. With Mark ACORN Richie at the helm it’s just a matter of time.
Maybe MN deserves Franken . . .
MrSpkr Thursday, November 6th at 12:25AM EST (link)but the rest of America doesn’t. God knows the Senate’s reputation is in the trash already — it doesn’t need that despicable little troll to lower people’s opinion even further.
Mistaken
Magic2171 Thursday, November 6th at 11:31AM EST (link)This is happening in Minnesota the state the in contantly battling with California for the title of “Fruits and Nuts”.
The loons rule the state, look at who represents them, they get their news for the “Red Star” newspaper.\We are not talking of rational group.
probably so
Doc Holliday (Diary) Thursday, November 6th at 10:33PM EST (link)Coleman will change his mind if they turn it into a loss, and he should do so.
Molon Labe!
they are claiming Coleman's lead is falling
Doc Holliday (Diary) Thursday, November 6th at 10:36PM EST (link)surprise,surprise!
AP
Molon Labe!