Ruling Gives Franken Big Lift in Senate Race

Washington is latest stage for Minnesota combatants

(NEWSER) - As Al Franken’s lawyers asked a Minnesota court to dismiss Norm Coleman’s challenge to election results there, both Senate hopefuls traveled to Washington today meet with party leaders, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports. “The race in Minnesota is over with,” Harry Reid said after conferring with Democrat Franken about committee assignments. “Reports of my defeat are greatly exaggerated,” said Coleman after meeting with GOP senators. More»

Legal process must run its course in Senate race, Gov. Pawlenty says

(NEWSER) - Minnesota officials turned down Al Franken’s request that he be certified as senator, the AP reports, just hours after his attorneys argued that a waiting period had passed for challenges. Though Franken emerged from the recount 225 votes ahead of incumbent Republican Norm Coleman, Coleman is challenging the result in court, the Hill adds. More»

Board certifies results for Franken hours after court rejects Republican's attempt to count more ballots

(NEWSER) - Minnesota’s Canvassing Board today certified Democrat Al Franken’s victory in the US Senate race, hours after the state’s top court rejected Republican Norm Coleman’s plea to count 654 previously rejected ballots, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports. The defeat leaves Coleman just one option. “Today’s ruling,” a Coleman lawyer said, “ensures that an election contest is now inevitable.” More»

Coleman holds 192-vote lead; 5K ballots challenged

(NEWSER) - The Minnesota Senate recount is complete, but the state won't have a winner anytime soon. Not only are 133 ballots missing in Minneapolis, but the state canvassing board has yet to convene to review thousands of challenged ballots. The meeting is set for Dec. 16. Norm Coleman holds a provisional 192-vote lead over challenger Al Franken, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports. More»

(NEWSER) - The Minnesota Senate recount is more than half done, and incumbent Norm Coleman is seeing his slim lead erode day by day, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports. The Republican’s lead over challenger Al Franken is now 120 votes—down from 215 on Tuesday and around 700 after the election. Missing ballots and a growing number of challenges by both camps have plagued the process. More»