Coleman's Lead Down to 5 in Minnesota Senate Recount
By anniepa
@anniepa (27955)
United States
December 19, 2008 3:03am CST
Suddenly, we've got a race on out hands as Senator Norm Coleman's lead has dwindled to a mere 5 votes over Democratic challenger Al Franken.
http://www.startribune.com/politics/national/senate/
Also, the Minnesota Supreme Court ordered Coleman and Franken to work with the Secretary of State and election officials to set up a process to identify ballots that were rejected in error.
What do you think NOW? What had looked like a sure GOP win now doesn't look so sure, does it?
Annie
1 person likes this
6 responses
@thegreatdebater (7316)
• United States
20 Dec 08
I heard today that Franken took the lead today, but they are saying that the republicans are crying (surprise) that the Fraken people are cheating. It will be interesting to see how this ends up.
1 person likes this
@thegreatdebater (7316)
• United States
21 Dec 08
I heard that the Coleman people are claiming that the Franken people are double counting people, and they keep on finding more ballots. It sounds like Florida all over again. It's a good think this election didn't come down to one state again.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
19 Dec 08
I suppose you are jumping up and down in glee, saying, "the Democrats are going to be in all the States!" I never liked gloating anyway. He might win anyway. Sorry to be a bearer of bad news, but sometimes it is not right for all the States to be one hundred percent Democratic, there has to be a balance somewhere.
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
19 Dec 08
Who even said anything about any other state in this discussion, Suspenseful? I was simply updating an ongoing issue with this recount. We're not even remotely close to having 100% Democrats in power. What would YOU think about 100% Republican? I'll bet you'd have no problem with that although you don't even live here.
Annie
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
19 Dec 08
That's what I'm hearing. They're saying the absentee ballots that had been rejected but were ordered to be counted by the Minnesota Supreme Court should favor Franken. I'm not sure why but it must have something to do with where they came from and the demographics of the voters. Hopefully we'll know by next year!
Annie
@ZephyrSun (7381)
• United States
19 Dec 08
I can't believe that race is still not settled. Maybe by the start of the next Congress? lol It seems so odd that there are only 5 votes between the candidates. Maybe one will bow out?
1 person likes this
@lilwonders456 (8214)
• United States
19 Dec 08
IT is crazy that is has not been settled by now. I mean really the election has been over for how long now? What is going to happen if they do not have this settled in time for the next congress?
They need to get the act in gear and find out who won. Then the state needs to relook at their election process. They need to find a way to handle situations like this more quickly.
1 person likes this
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
19 Dec 08
I think this is the first time they've ever had a problem like this in Minnesota. In fact, when the recount was just about to start I seem to recall someone saying how that's one state where they haven't had any problems in the past so it should go smoothly...yeah, RIGHT!! I DO understand how whenever the vote is that close there should be a recount because when the votes are being counted electronically there's always a chance of some being skipped or misread. Maybe every state should have thousands of people "on call" to do a manual recount just in case? Also, hopefully since they're now going through it they'll come to some kind of consensus on the disputed ballots. I mean, they have to decide for once and for all what is done with ballots where there's just a little smudge by one name and the other is crossed out or where someone wrote something in in the wrong place, etc. I looked at some of the ballots that were disputed and I'm not sure how I'd rule some of them. I think what we need is a uniform national system for elections, especially for federal positions like President, Senate and House. One kind of ballot and/or machine, one standard of what counts and what doesn't, etc. Of course, that makes WAY too much sense.
Annie
