Harry Reid: Minnesota Race Is "Over"
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid declared a winner in the Minnesota Senate Race between Republican Senator Norm Coleman and Al Franken today. At a news conference following a bipartisan meeting with President-elect Barack Obama, Reid said, "The race in Minnesota's over. Now it's only a little finger-pointing."
When asked for reaction to Reid's statement, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell said it is "safe to say the election in Minnesota is not over."
A Minnesota Canvassing Board declared Franken the winner today by 225 votes. However, Coleman still has seven days to file a lawsuit protesting the results and Franken will not get an official election certificate until all lawsuits are gone.
Reid also said that he will not swear-in Illinois Governor Blagojevich's pick to fill Obama's vacant Senate seat. He said, "at this stage we're waiting to see what's going to happen in Illinois."
