Canvassing Board nudges Franken's lead up to 49

[brooklynite]

Source: Minneapolis Star-Tribune

From Hastings to Washington, the battle over Minnesota's heated U.S. Senate race raged Tuesday, as Democrats edged closer to declaring victory for Al Franken and campaign lawyers sparred over counting hundreds of rejected absentee ballots at meetings across the state.

"At this stage, it appears that Franken will be certified the winner by the state Canvassing Board," said Jim Manley, a spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev. "We're keeping abreast of the situation and will make a decision with regard to Senate action at the appropriate point in the process."

Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., went further, saying that if the Canvassing Board declares a winner on Monday, the Senate should "consider seating that person pending litigation."

...snip...

Under Minnesota law, the governor and secretary of state can issue a certificate of election officially declaring a winner only after any legal contests are resolved.

Read more: http://www.startribune.com/politics/national/senate/36877849.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUUs

[LisaL]

1. Well goodie.

Since Coleman doesn't seem eager to count the potentially wrongly rejected absentee ballots, why not declare Al the winner and be done?

[I Have A Dream]

2. I just made another donation.

:D

[kestrel91316]

3. Jesus. Aren't they done counting YET??????

This is great. I predicted a Franken win by less than 100.

[Initech]

4. This is absolutely insane isnt it?

I laugh in the face of anyone who says that our votes dont count. After watching this race, they can all go shut the fuck up now.

[Better Believe It]

10. Your single vote won't determine the outcome of any federal election

It never has and it never will.

[Gman]

11. But this is about as close as it gets

I remember a local state senate race in Texas 20+ years ago where the incumbent Democrat won in the primary by 12 votes. That was when Texas was still a 2-party state with liberal vs. conservative Democrats.

[pnwmom]

12. A single vote could control the outcome of a single electoral college vote,

which could determine a federal election.

It hasn't happened, but it could.

[Better Believe It]

24. And a massive asteroid could impact Earth destroying our planet in the next 24 hours

It hasn't happened, but it could.

[earthlover]

15. Oy yeah? Well, people acting together CAN make ALL the difference!

Our community depends on participation by its citizens. Not just in voting, but in other ways of putting the well being of the community as a priority. Like recycling....one person recycling won't solve the world's ecological problems either, if you use similar logic....But acting together we all can be part of making some changes.

If you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem....still true today.

[Better Believe It]

25. Mass movements organizng mass actions can make a difference

That's a totally different matter than the idea that your single vote will determine the destiny of the nation or world.

[TheCowsCameHome]

5. Very nice.

Good luck, big Al!

[pleah]

6. I'm sure glad Al

fought and didn't concede like Coleman wanted him to.

[tblue37]

21. Since Coleman was all about the apparent "loser" conceding before all the

votes were counted, for the "good of the state and the people," of coruse, shouldn't he stop his shenanigans and concede right now--for the good of the state and the people?

[pleah]

23. Yes.

:)

[kenfrequed]

7. I am proud of my state

We are very careful and have good solid laws to protect the process. Think about what happened with the recount in Florida.

[Eric J in MN]

9. The US Supreme Court stopped the recount in Florida,

...and could stop the recount here if they wanted to.

[kenfrequed]

22. Well...

The Renquist court did do this but it was only able to do so by claiming that the state of Florida did not have laws on the book to ascertain the intent of the voter. It was a fascile and unconstitutional ruling but they had a crack that they could widen to stop the recount. In Minnesota there have been several legal recounts and there actually ARE legally proscriptive methods to determine intent of a voter as well as standards by which a vote may be disqualified.

So the renquist Gore v Bush precedent would not be applicable and any attempt to stop the recount would have no standing which is why the Coleman team did not try to stop the recount. Well that and that state law MANDATES a recount in this instance.

[1monster]

20. The Florida Supreme Court ruled for a complete state recount of the votes... The US Supreme Court

without prescedence stopped the recount.

Had the US Supreme Court not intervenede (where they had only the shakiest Constitutional jurisdiction), Florida would have been recounted in 2000, and Gore would have won the state and the election.

[No Elephants]

8. Good on Al and Amy!

[eyepaddle]

13. A tip to all: save yourselves the agravation and NEVER read the comments on the Strib's site

Unless you really love reading right-wing troll idiots. I'm not immune to the guilty pleasure of watching them huff and puff; and I will go so far as to say their bitter tears of rage taste like sweet candy to me, but wow, even that gets old after a while.

[sce56]

14. How about a picture to go with those thoughts

[eyepaddle]

26. LOL fantastic!

:rofl:

[Towlie]

16. Nate Silver predicted a 27 vote Franken win on November 23.

Looks like he might be off by 22 votes. Could he be losing his touch? :blush:

http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/2008/11/projection-franken-to-win-recount-by-27.html

[davidpdx]

17. Good news, I just wish there were so many twists and turns left

and this would end so Franken can be seated in the Senate.

[HEyHEY]

18. Yay Al!

[amandabeech]

19. Politically, it would be very difficult to seat Franken and not Burris

if there are outstanding legal challenges and if Minnesota does not certify Franken's election.