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Emotional Franken Video: Count Our Votes

Dem wants absentee review; fight continues over lost ballots

By Gabriel Winant, Newser User

Posted Dec 11, 2008 9:00 AM CST

(Newser) – In its ongoing fight to get rejected absentee ballots re-evaluated, Al Franken’s Senate campaign released an emotionally charged video about uncounted voters, reports the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. The video includes one bedridden man—with his head on a Minnesota Vikings pillow—who implores, “I may be a quadriplegic, but we are still someone, and we deserve to have our votes counted.” Incumbent Norm Coleman’s campaign called the video “a new low,” aimed at discrediting election officials.

The absentee ballots are one of several outstanding disputes. The other major one centers on 133 Minneapolis ballots lost in the recount. Since recounted numbers are now unavailable, Coleman’s campaign argues that they should not be counted at all, while Franken’s wants their original, election night tally to count.

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In this Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2008 picture, Sen. Norm Coleman, R-Minn., claims victory in his reelection bid as his wife Laurie, left, looks on during a news conference in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)

In this Nov. 19, 2008 file photo, Minnesota Democratic Senate candidate Al Franken walks on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2008. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

Cindy Reichert, Minneapolis elections director, leans on a stack of Minneapolis ballots as she gives some instructions to election judges during the recount in the US Senate race. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)

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An Al Franken campaign video spotlighting voters whose contested ballots may be uncounted. (FrankenForSenate)

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We had no idea -- none. - Burton Bolter, 73, on the rejection of his absentee ballot

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Emotional Franken Video: Count Our Votes