Court Calls Franken Winner; Coleman Vows to Appeal

A Minnesota court ruled today that Al Franken won more votes than rival Norm Coleman in their contested 2008 Senate race, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports. Dismissing Coleman's argument that systemic errors nullified the outcome, the 3-judge panel said Franken's 312-vote lead stands. Coleman vowed to appeal the decision.

“The overwhelming weight of the evidence indicates that the Nov. 4, 2008, election was conducted fairly, impartially and accurately,” the judges said in a unanimous ruling. Their decision dismissed Coleman's comparison of the race to the 2000 presidential ballot in Florida, and said Coleman was asking them to bend state election rules to allow illegal absentee ballots. Said a Franken rep: “We’re thrilled." (More Al Franken stories.)