January 2, 2009
Posted: January 2nd, 2009 05:00 PM ET
The result of the Minnesota Senate race remains unclear.
The result of the Minnesota Senate race remains unclear.

MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota (CNN) - Minnesota's Supreme Court kept the door open Friday afternoon for another possible intervention in the state's still unresolved U.S. Senate race between incumbent Republican Sen. Norm Coleman and Democrat Al Franken.

Coleman's campaign is requesting that the court hear arguments that no uniform standard or guidelines are being followed in how improperly rejected absentee ballots are added to the recount.

The court Friday asked the Franken campaign, the secretary of state's office, and seven counties to supply any response to the Coleman campaign's petition by Saturday morning.

Local officials have identified about 1,350 ballots that might have been rejected in error. Coleman's campaign had attempted to add about 600 more ballots to that pile, but since the two campaigns did not agree on these added ballots, they will not be counted now.

An earlier high court ruling mandated that no ballot could be counted unless local officials and each campaign agreed that the ballot had been rejected in error.

The Franken campaign has said it simply wants to count the ballots the local officials have already identified and leave it at that.

Franken currently holds a slim lead of about 50 votes, but the improperly rejected absentee ballots have yet to be included in the tally. Those are expected to be in the mix by early next week.

Filed under: Minnesota


NEW AMERICAN-CITIZEN   January 3rd, 2009 9:55 am ET

PLEASE QUITE .. ITS OVER. COLEMAN

CA Democrat   January 3rd, 2009 12:15 am ET

Who cares anymore? I don't care who is chosen, we Dems have a majority now, sorry Repubs even with Coleman, you guys have less.

Why is it that when Coleman was ahead, he didn't want a recount yet when Al finally gets ahead by a slim margin, Normy changes his mind.

Typical Republicans. There's a reason why you're the minority. We don't like you, so go back to the south.

dems be dopes   January 2nd, 2009 9:56 pm ET

Maybe we can get the election officials from Zimbabwe to come over and help?

Then again, what is one more comedian in the Senate going to do?

Amy from MN   January 2nd, 2009 9:30 pm ET

Belle, in MN when an election is so incredibly close a recount is automatically done. Research before you make false charges.

Amy from MN   January 2nd, 2009 9:29 pm ET

Amazing how Coleman wanted Franken to concede on election night, and suggested that Franken not use the courts. Now when Coleman appears to be on the losing end he wants to use the courts all the time?! Such a hypocrite! Hang in there Al...

Simmy   January 2nd, 2009 9:21 pm ET

Leave Franken, Burris and Kennedy-S. alone! Who are any of you to say who will or won't do a great job? Some of those so-called "seasoned" Senators and Representatives need to be retrained. Some of them have lost sight of whom they are there to serve (thanks Donna Brazile).

Proud American   January 2nd, 2009 9:17 pm ET

I find it real funny that a Republican think he's won and election. Americans came out in full force this past November to say GO HOME TO REPUBLICANS. Please stop wasting America time we have a ton of work to do thanks to your last 8 years.

Frank Fatcherman   January 2nd, 2009 9:17 pm ET

Why don't we care about a state that actually matters like Deleware or Wisconsin?

KS Exred   January 2nd, 2009 9:11 pm ET

I see Senator Cornyn wants to filibuster if Franken is seated. I seem to remember that in the not so distant past the Republicans were totally opposed to filibusters and wanted to be able to over ride if not prevent them. I remember former Senator Bob Dole suggesting that was not a good idea because the Republicans might not always have the majority. What comes around goes around? I think Franken will win fair and square even if it is a close election. Has the NRC heard America, even conservative are sick and tired of the current Republican Party and the last 8 years that has sold this great land down the river to ruin.

Jeff From Jersey   January 2nd, 2009 9:04 pm ET

They should have used CHADS!
Next year Bush and Gore might be running for something up there.
Tell the court to close the door.It's wasting energy just like this recount.

Belle   January 2nd, 2009 8:53 pm ET

Oh...this is how an election works....State verifies Coleman as the winner, Frank...does not like the results, asks for recount, finds all kinds of new ballots, accuses opponent of corruption, gets ahead by 50...and the court will decide.

Wonder how many ballots were lost in the recounts.

Davonne Easton PA   January 2nd, 2009 8:42 pm ET

OMG this election's not over YET? Why can't they just call it for Frankin already. This is Foolish, we have important things to take care of!

BB   January 2nd, 2009 8:37 pm ET

It appears a re-vote might have been cleaner and much less troublesome for all concerned. Minnesota sucks

Gorbashov - Long Beach, Ca.   January 2nd, 2009 8:36 pm ET

Democracy is not the most efficient system, but it is the best.

DEAL WITH IT!!!

Go Al!

Patsy Madison, TN   January 2nd, 2009 8:27 pm ET

Coleman, you started cheating from day one. You knew that Al won. I remember you wanted Al to give you the election on election night. I remember the dirty tricks you pulled to get the office after Wellstone died. Now, it is time for you to go.

Roger KC   January 2nd, 2009 8:24 pm ET

"Klobuchar's statement prompted Cornyn, a Republican from Texas and the chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, to threaten a filibuster to block Democrats from seating Franken before an official certificate is signed by Ritchie and Pawlenty."

-CNN

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Why don't all you Republican morons sit down and shut up. You've had 8 years to enrichen yourselves and your friends while you have pillaged our country and damaged our economy, our security, our envioronment and our international standing. If you haven't got it yet, the American public want you and your organ grinder monkey of a president to go away so that the rest of us can constructively deal with the damage. Drop your political games. It's time to stand down and not get in the way of progress.

alvino   January 2nd, 2009 8:18 pm ET

Franken won, Norm is done!

Justin   January 2nd, 2009 8:15 pm ET

Can I ask how much longer this is going to go on? Let's just appoint Mickey Mouse to the senate seat! I think Mickey would be a better choice then either of these morons!

Xavier   January 2nd, 2009 8:13 pm ET

When your loosing I guess its time to bring out the GOP Florida paybook. The GOP is so dishonest and greedy that GOP should stand for Greedy Old Party.

Texas Teacher   January 2nd, 2009 8:10 pm ET

come on.... Coleman... accept defeat gracefully and let us get on with the business at hand....

windfall   January 2nd, 2009 7:54 pm ET

i swear to God, Norm.

Stop complaining and trying to control the situation with your lawyers and frivolity. Let the votes be counted, then shut the hell up and go away ya turncoat Cheney lover.

Bill   January 2nd, 2009 7:29 pm ET

I support Mr. Frankin, however I do not think he should go to Washington until the election has been certified by the Minnesota Gov and Minn Sec of State. I think Al will come out on top, but the process must be respected.

casper   January 2nd, 2009 7:27 pm ET

give all the votes to the elementary school children, let them count them, they will do a good job and get it done.

SMR   January 2nd, 2009 7:15 pm ET

Count them and get this over with please!!!

Objective thinking   January 2nd, 2009 6:55 pm ET

Republican-bashing in 3... 2... 1...

annie   January 2nd, 2009 6:54 pm ET

What a mess....

We don't know who to trust anymore..........both parties have showed us they will do anything to win.

I care less about whether the winner is Democrat or Republican and care more about ensuring that politicians are not allowed to continue manipulating our election process.

Mike, Syracuse NY   January 2nd, 2009 6:52 pm ET

I thought the Democrats were supposed to be the 'count-all-the-votes' party. It would seem Al Franken is afraid of what would happen if they did. Typical Democratic hypocrasy.

Mobius   January 2nd, 2009 6:49 pm ET

Very sad that in this day and age we can't count all votes properly and promptly. African nations have faster results.

Mark, B'ham., Al.   January 2nd, 2009 6:44 pm ET

We will see if the Minnisota State Supreme Court is as partisan as the Florida State Supreme Court proved it was in 2000 by recounting only democrat stronghold counties as it looks like Al wants to happen.

Karl Haldorson   January 2nd, 2009 6:43 pm ET

Come on now! Enough is enough. If Coleman was doing as good a job as he thinks, do you wonder why Franken is in a position to take over the Senatorial position in this great state!!! There are issues that need his (Colemans) attention now.

Paul   January 2nd, 2009 6:36 pm ET

Clearly neither candidate won. This fiasco must be declared void and a new election taken with only two candidates. If this isn't according to the law, then those laws are stupid. Ineffective laws are repealed all the time.

WIlly Brown   January 2nd, 2009 6:30 pm ET

If Al Franken manages to steal this election he will put Minnesota so far back to the stone age. He’s only in it for a government golden parachute retirement.

Godluvr   January 2nd, 2009 6:22 pm ET

Coleman is a pitbull. He will let go, even when Franken is announced as winner. His groupies will find another loophole to present to the courts to further delay the process.

Republicans, please learn when to fold up the tent. In Congress, and during elections, you tend to get stuck in denial too long.

jaye   January 2nd, 2009 6:19 pm ET

Isn't there a corruption charge against Coleman? If so, why hasn't it been discussed at length on the news? Oh, I know...it's because he's a republican.

Let's get Franken in there and....   January 2nd, 2009 6:08 pm ET

make the Senate a total circus.

Proud American   January 2nd, 2009 6:06 pm ET

It seems I heard this somewhere before..

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