March 23, 2009 1:24 PM

An End In Sight For The Minnesota Senate Race?

By
Michelle Levi
Topics
Congress
(CBS/AP)
Could an end be in sight for the stalled Minnesota Senate race between incumbent Norm Coleman and his Democratic opponent, former comedian Al Franken?

After more than four months of recounts and deliberations, the Minnesota court hearing the appeal could announce a decision as late as next week CBS News' Political Director Steve Chaggaris reports.

A source close to Franken tells CBS News' Mary Hager that "the court will virtually certainly rule in his favor, and he will likely add significantly to the margin, maybe up to 500 votes or so," at which point Coleman will likely appeal to the Minnesota Supreme Court.

The source says that Minnesota state law allows the Supreme Court to drop all other business to quickly hear and deliberate on Coleman's appeal.

"Give a week to prepare briefs, a day of oral argument, and a few days for a ruling. Then they will probably call for a certification. At that point, perhaps mid-April, he comes to DC," the source says, adding that Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell may try to filibuster Franken's potential seating until Coleman's appeals have been exhausted.

Franken has said publically that he does not expect to be seated before Coleman's appeal is heard.

The former comedian has been visiting with Reid and Senate Democrats regularly in Washington, D.C. during recent weeks.

Reid's office tells CBS News, however, that they "need to wait and see what the Minnesota Supreme Court says first" before moving to seat Franken.

The Minnesota canvassing board certified Franken the winner of the race by 225 votes in January, at which point Coleman filed an appeal challenging the results.

Coleman's counsel argued that there were 86 precincts across the state where vote recount irregularities may have rendered the closer-than-close results illegitimate. Three judges rejected Coleman's argument.

But those looking for a speedy decision should be wary. Earlier this month, The Minneapolis Star-Tribune reported that top Senate Republicans were encouraging Coleman to take the case to the U.S. Supreme Court if necessary on the grounds of equal protection.

Add a Comment See all 38 Comments
by theduck6 March 30, 2009 1:49 PM EDT
ballots in partisan operatives trunk, double counts where more votes were counted than were cast and a raft of MoveOn.org money. You can't prove Bush stole the election but you still whine about it. Every partisan newspaper sent legions to Fla to prove the election was stolen and not one could. Waaaaahhhhhhh!

Google Image search "Frankenbunny "and see what a buffoon the morons in Minn are trying to put in the Senate.
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by cturner3rd March 27, 2009 4:18 PM EDT
If Tubby Smith keeps winning he could run in 4 years and win in a landslide.
Reply to this comment
by Popeye20001976 March 24, 2009 2:04 PM EDT
Remember... the only reason Franken has made it this far is because of a few shady practices. Remember 133 votes were "found" in a trunk of a car that favored Franken, he succussfully blocked absentee ballots primarily from military, and the recounts at several precints all favored Franken.... which is statistically impossible. Here is an example of some of the ballots they are allowing in favor of Franken versus ones they are not allowing for Coleman.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,470892,00.html
Reply to this comment
by abbe91 March 24, 2009 12:00 PM EDT
Its possible many of Coleman's votes were discarded so Franken could win. We all know how corrupt the democratic organization is.
Posted by mariannpepit at 6:42 AM : Mar 24, 2009

And if my aunt had some, we would call her "uncle".
Reply to this comment
by abbe91 March 24, 2009 11:58 AM EDT
http://www.startribune.com/politics/national/senat/41720137.html

FEC says donors can pay Coleman, Franken legal bills

"The ruling, which backers for both candidates sought, will help them pay bills remaining from the seven-week trial as well as future expenses from a likely appeal to the Minnesota Supreme Court."

Doesn't say if Coleman can use these funds for helping him in the Kazeminy affair, though.
Reply to this comment
by abbe91 March 24, 2009 11:47 AM EDT
Franken should stay in entertainment.
Posted by mariannpepit at 6:42 AM : Mar 24, 2009

Reagan should have stayed in entertainment as well.
Reply to this comment
by mariannpepit March 24, 2009 9:42 AM EDT
If Coleman was the winner prior to the refusal to count votes that there were irregularities he should be seated as the senator. Franken should stay in entertainment. Comedians do not be long in the senate. Its possible many of Coleman's votes were discarded so Franken could win. We all know how corrupt the democratic organization is.
Reply to this comment
by ioweign March 24, 2009 4:56 AM EDT
Mankato Free Press

Published November 06, 2008 09:01 am

Franken said he plans to let recount play out

Coleman urges Franken to concede

Recount could cost $90,000

Associated Press

A slugfest for nearly two years, Minnesota's U.S. Senate race headed into a new round Wednesday as the campaigns girded for an automatic statewide recount to determine if Republican Sen. Norm Coleman's bare lead over Democratic challenger Al Franken would stand.

Coleman declared himself the winner of Tuesday's election but Franken said he would let the recount play out, hoping it would erase the incumbent's 475-vote lead out of nearly 2.9 million ballots. State officials said the recount wouldn't start until mid-November and would likely take weeks.

"Yesterday the voters spoke. We prevailed," Coleman said Wednesday at a news conference. He noted Franken could opt to waive the recount.

"It's up to him whether such a step is worth the tax dollars it will take to conduct," Coleman said, telling reporters he would "step back" if he were in Franken's position. Secretary of State Mark Ritchie said the recount would cost 3 cents per ballot, or almost $90,000.
Reply to this comment
by idlepugilist March 24, 2009 12:28 AM EDT
Being from Minnesota, I somewhat believe Coleman has the state's best interests in mind with his endless spiral of appeals. However, it's the RNC and powerful Republican wallets that have rendered MN into a 1-senator state for the past 3 months.
Tell ya what, when Sen Wellstone died, Coleman was prepared to make sure MN had 2 senators right away. Now he's sucking up to the muddy RNC hind teat and has proven he doesn't care about MN interests so long as he doesn't have to be a loser. It was emasculating when he lost the governor's race to Jesse Ventura; Coleman should gracefully bow out before he solidifies his position as a complete arse.
Reply to this comment
by tangouniforn March 23, 2009 8:58 PM EDT
He's here simply to get a cushy government job and collect 6 years of checks. He really does not have Minnesota at heart.
Posted by jsklinemn

Franken is a very, very wealthy man. He does not need the paycheck that comes with the job!
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