Al Franken falls short in Senate bid. (571 votes -recount coming)

[underpants]

Source: Reuters

NEW YORK (Hollywood Reporter) - He may be good enough and smart enough -- but does he have enough votes?

Long after most races had been decided, the bid of a former "Saturday Night Live" comedian to join the United States Senate remained uncertain Wednesday.

Al Franken's bid to unseat Republican incumbent Norm Coleman in Minnesota fell short by 571 votes, according to the completed unofficial tally. Coleman secured 42.03 percent of the vote, and Franken 42.01 percent.

Those numbers virtually assured a recount, which according to Minnesota law is triggered if the margin of victory is less than half of 1%, and so the result may not be known for days.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/peopleNews/idUSTRE4A48WH20081105

[tigereye]

1. amazing that it could be so close!

it's exciting.


hey UP! Great job in Virginia! :thumbsup:

[underpants]

5. Yes we did do a great job here

Va and Indiana were probably turned due to Obama/Biden visit and the groundgame

A long winded (not really about the campaign itself) here

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=103&topic_id=399016&mesg_id=399016

[tigereye]

15. bookmarked to read later

thanks!

[tridim]

2. What's the word on provisional ballots in MN?

[Up2Late]

8. That's what I want to know, are their still some uncounted ballots?

Provisional, Absentee, Overseas? Are all of those counted yet?

[Love Bug]

20. Absentee ballots aren't counted until after the last mail drop on

election day. However, a person casting an absentee ballot has the option of changing their mind by presenting themselves at their precinct on election day. They are allowed to vote, and their absentee ballot is then pulled and not counted (or their choices on it subtracted from the total if it's already been counted).

The recount is done by hand and because of the # of ballot cast (2.5M) it will take about two weeks. The Secretary of State (a Democrat, BTW) has also provided for any question regarding voter intent with examples in the recount guide. In MN we vote on paper ballots that are then read and tallied by machine. There is a possibility that if a voter marked the ballot incorrectly, say by circling the name or using a check mark next to the name instead of filling in the oval or completing the arrow (depends on ballot type), that choice would not be read properly by the machine and would not count. Thus, the need for a hand recount.

Can Al make up the difference and pull ahead? I don't know. Maybe. Of course, with all of the "graciousness" he's known for, Coleman is insisting that Franken concede.

[Eric J in MN]

23. Provisional ballots are rare in MN, because...

...we have Electon Day registration at the polls.

[KamaAina]

3. Dean Barkley should be smeared with peanut butter and gnawed on by rabid ferrets

this is Jesse "The Body" Ventura's former campaign manager, whose third-party bid appears to have sunk Franken and saved the a$$ of Norm Coleman (R-Changing Parties As Easy As Changing Hairstyles). :grr:

edit: Note that Coleman's and Franken's totals don't add to 100. The remaining votes were thrown away on Barkley.

[onehandle]

4. Yep. Fuck third parties! nt

[Stellabella]

10. That would be the perfect finish for him.

I'm so SO sick of third party candidates ruining my state.

[Frisbee]

19. Couldn't agree more...

I think Obama would have carried Missouri in not for Nader.

[ORDagnabbit]

6. provisional and absentee ballots....have they been counted as well?

[Eric J in MN]

14. Provisional ballots are rare in MN...

...because we have Election Day registration at the polls.

[DogPoundPup]

7. AP Admits Flub: 'Uncalls' Franken Loss

SNIP~

The AP called the race prematurely. Minnesota Secretary of State Mark Ritchie said the recount won't begin until mid-November at the earliest and will probably stretch into December. It will involve local election officials from around the state.
http://www.eandppub.com/2008/11/ap-admits-flub.html

[tridim]

9. Plenty of time for Coleman to file more bullshit lawsuits.

Why wait? Start recounting NOW!

[desktop]

11. Very sad if it holds up.

A shame there can't be a runoff as in some states. The independent got almost half a million votes that mostly would have gone to Franken. Recounts rarely overturn unless they are even closer than 571 votes.

[Diane R]

12. Recounts can overturn....ask those of us who watched Gov. Gregoire win in Washington State.

[Eric J in MN]

13. How many votes was she down before the recount? NT

NT

[ORDagnabbit]

17. 261

[ORDagnabbit]

18. Please note it wasnt until a HAND RECOUNT that rossi lost by 129 votes

[rabies1]

16. What's next?

Just as I am in shock that Michelle Bachman won in her state, now Coleman???? What?
If after recounts are done, and Al still doesn't win, what will he do? Can he go back to his 498th Peabody award winning Air America radio talk show? I miss him so much and don't want to be denied of his political views.

[glinda]

24. Not totally in shock

as Bachmann had plenty of money. But in the case of Al, I am hopeful that they will file lawsuits, challenge or recount. Also, there is the "gun-people" factor in the northern region. I thought that Al did not travel enough to the heartland as often as Coleman did as he was always coming up through the State. BUT...I am not real sure that Coleman won. He is the big link to oil and Pharma and I suspect he actually did not win. I hope he is found guilty and in such case the Gov. Pawlenty will appoint UNLESS there is an absolute demand of another election at which time Al could run.

[scratchy]

21. hehe

A joke too short or too much.

[underpants]

22. Welcome to DU

:hi:

[BanTheGOP]

25. SEND OUR VOTER ATTORNEYS NOW!

Get them out there and get those votes that were stolen. Based on exit polling, Al should have won by 10,000 or so votes!

This is definitely something to look at...