Franken to Be Declared Winner Today

But GOP vows to fight on

By Peter Fearon, Newser Staff

Posted Jan 5, 2009 3:21 AM CST

(Newser) – Funnyman-about to-turn-Sen. Al Franken is expected to be officially declared the winner of the marathon recount in the US Senate race in Minnesota today—but don't expect incumbent Norm Coleman to quietly accept the decision. His campaign will challenge the result in court, and Senate Republicans will oppose Franken being seated in the Senate, said GOP officials. The state canvassing board will announce Franken won by 225 votes, reports CNN.

Coleman claims 100 votes were counted twice, and 650 absentee ballots were incorrectly rejected. Senate Democrats say Franken won fair and square. "Even if all the ballots Coleman claims were double-counted or erroneously added were resolved in his favor, he still wouldn't have enough votes to win," said Senate Campaign Committee Chairman Charles Schumer.

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Al Franken will be declared the winner of the Minnesota's Senate race recount but Republicans will oppose his being seated until a court battle over the count is over. (AP Photo/Jim Mone, File)

Sen. Norm Coleman has vowed to take the marathon MinnesotaSenate race recount to court. (AP Photo/Jim Mone, File)

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When a candidate is leading because of double-counted votes, and votes that get counted even when ballots don't exist, it clearly means that challenge is the only likely remedy.
- Cullen Sheehan, Norm Coleman's campaign manager.

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Franken to Be Declared Winner Today