Franken not conceding
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/11/05/art.result.cnn.jpg caption=" The race for the Minnesota Senate is in a dead heat."]
(CNN) - Minnesota Senate challenger Al Franken is not conceding his race against incumbent GOP Sen. Norm Coleman.
The two men are separated by less than 600 votes with 100 percent of the precincts reporting. The Associated Press called the race for Coleman Wednesday morning.
"Under Minnesota state law, we will now enter into an automatic statewide canvass and recount," Franken said earlier Wednesday.
"The process, dictated by our laws, will be orderly, fair, and will take place within a matter of days. We won't know for a little while who won this race, but at the end of the day, we will know that the voice of the electorate was clearly heard."
UPDATE: The AP has uncalled the race for Coleman
Read Franken's full prepared statement after the jump
The Secretary of State's office reports that all but nine of Minnesota's 4,130 precincts have reported in. And this race is too close to call, with a margin of just about 1100 votes out of 2.9 million cast. That's four one-hundredths of one percent of the vote. And we expect that when those final nine precincts are counted this morning, that 1100-vote margin will shrink into the hundreds.
Under Minnesota state law, we will now enter into an automatic statewide canvass and recount. It will be the first one since 1962, when I was 11 years old. I remember that year very clearly for two reasons. The recount between Elmer L. Anderson and Karl Rolvaag. And the Gophers were in the Rose Bowl that year.
And we have twice as many ballots to count this time.
Let me be clear: Our goal is to ensure that every vote is properly counted.
The process, dictated by our laws, will be orderly, fair, and will take place within a matter of days. We won't know for a little while who won this race, but at the end of the day, we will know that the voice of the electorate was clearly heard.
There is reason to believe that the recount could change the vote tallies significantly.
Our office and the Obama campaign have received reports of irregularities at various precincts around the state. For instance, some polling places in Minneapolis ran out of registration materials. Our team has been working on those issues for several hours already, and they will continue to do so this morning as the recount process begins.
Let me be clear: This race is too close to call, and we do not yet know who won. We are lucky enough to live in a state with built-in protections to ensure that in close elections like these, the will of the people is accurately reflected in the outcome.
This has been a long campaign, and it's going to be a little longer before we have a winner. Senator Coleman, Senator Barkley, and I have done a lot of talking. Minnesotans have waited a long time to have THEIR say. And thanks to our state's laws, we will eventually understand precisely what they have said.
Go AL FRANKEN
Why would he? He is everything that is wrong with Liberal politics and he has never cared about anything beyond his own political ambitions. I was hoping for Minnesota to decisively defeat this vile human being, but I will be more than content with a victory by Republicans by less than 1000 votes. In some ways that is even sweeter for us and harder for that knucklehead to swallow
A comedian in the Senate. Would that be ironic or accurate?
There is no way in heck that it should even be this close. Even the most Liberal of all Dems have to see what a joke that Franken is, right? I guess not.
Message for Al Franken: You tried; you lost; endure it; and you will get use to it.
This just goes to show how incompetent and ignorant folks in Minnesota really are. No wonder some people from the USA give it a bad name.
Go Al! Take this seat away from the fascists!
I am from Minnesota and I cannot believe the idiots that state elects to office. They appear more liberal than any state in the country and now Franken almost wins.
After the 2000 fiasco, when its this close, it should looked at closely and examined. And as for comedians in the Senate, well we have had one in the White House for eight years havent we?
Me = Obama Supporter
Franken = Crazy
Wow. The bitterness of these posts is overwhelming. Must your opponents be denigrated as vile human beings? Knuckleheads? Isn't it possible that he is another well-intentioned person wanting to serve his country who happens to disagree with you? THIS is what is now most wrong with politics in America.
I'm a democrat and I don't care for Al Franken. I hope he loses.
Any other year this never would have been so close. But, in the meantime, GO AL!
Just in case you forgot. Minnesota elected a professional wrestler as their Governor. So a comedian being elected to the Senate is less of a stretch in my opinion.
A joke? Really? Perhaps you should read Franken's books, "Rush Limbaugh is a Big, Fat Idiot" and "Lies and the Lying Liars that Tell them". Meticulously researched, thoughtful, and polemic. He's not just a comedian, he's been a political animal for years. He'll make a great public servant.
There are election laws to be followed. I hope they are indeed followed and a complete and honest recount will happen.
The good news is that Kathleen Harris is not involved.
Al Franken has been an incredibly intelligent and astute observer of and commentator on politics for much of his life. Sometimes the ones that see reality most clearly must laugh to keep from crying. I think this expression describes him perfectly and I couldn't be happier to have someone in touch with reality so close to representing me.
The fact that this "joker" has a real shot at winning the senate seat shows just how out of touch the Republican party is.
"He has never cared about anything beyond his own political ambitions." I lived in St. Paul when Coleman was mayor – and a DEMOCRAT – that description suits him to a tee!
What's the big deal? We've endured decades of jokers in the White House. Franken is a mere comedian, and not all that funny of one at that.
Let the process run it's course, and accept the outcome. it's as simple as that.
Matt in Dallas, I think it's safe to say that Dumbya, the GOP, and YOU are the jokes this year, n'est-ce pas?
Keep going Al. I want you to STICK IT to O'Reilly. Him and the other Faux News shills (especailly Shammity) will be in shock if you pull this out
I live in MN and voted for Coleman. I cannot believe it was this close. Al Franken is a hack who shouldn't have garnered 10 votes. He has no business being in politics. He wasn't a funny comedian and he would have been a terrible senator.
I truly hope the recount shows Coleman is clearly the better man.
Maybe Franken can get a job on a reality show somewhere. They always hire washed up celebs.
are you people crazy or just uninformed? Coleman is a JOKE.
Franken has solid ideas and plans to HELP the people of MN.
If it wasn't for the 3rd party candidate, Franken would have won handily.
Fight to the END Franken!! Don't let them pull a BUSH 2000 and 2004 on you..Conceded nothing!!!
America (not me) elected a former actor (Reagan) to the presidency...why not a comedian to the Senate? We have seen wrestlers and former beauty queens win govenorships .
IF the GOP thinks that Palin could have been a credible VP, then why not a comedian? LOL!!