Minnesota: recount court will review 400 absentee ballots
The New York Times reports: Al Franken, the comedian turned politician, won a potentially decisive court ruling on Tuesday in his bid to replace Norm Coleman, a Minnesota Republican trying to hold on to his Senate seat.
A three-judge panel ruled that only 400 absentee ballots — far fewer than Mr. Coleman had sought — should be examined for possible counting. If the ruling stands, it could be devastating for Mr. Coleman, who trailed his Democratic challenger by 225 votes out of some 2.9 million cast and had hoped that nearly 1,400 absentee ballots might be recounted.
Even if the results put Mr. Coleman further in the hole, as expected, he could fight on, before the Minnesota Supreme Court or perhaps in the federal courts. His lawyer said Mr. Coleman had not given up. ...
The ballots in question appear to include many that Mr. Franken had identified as wrongly rejected, as well as ballots that Mr. Coleman wanted opened, The Minneapolis Star Tribune reported on its Web site. About half come from Hennepin, Ramsey and St. Louis Counties, places Mr. Franken won by significant margins, The Star-Tribune said. -- Franken Wins Favorable Court Ruling in Minnesota Senate Race - NYTimes.com