The Franken, Coleman Recounts

It may be expensive- but I'm in favor of a runoff election when its this close.

F**k that! If Coleman was in the lead by 1 vote, there would not be a single republican calling for a runoff election...

Remember 2000!

no runoff election. . .but rather legitimate recounts. . .we are told EVERY vote can make a difference. . .

but rather legitimate recounts

Who decides what's legit?

This recount was very transparent. Weren't they showing videos of the entire process so you could see which ballots were counted and which weren't?

A run off ?So the run off can be contested ?We have a canvas board,We have both sides agreeing to the judges,lets leave it there;;;;;;; Pretty simple;

agree with you Chris WWW. . .i was reading an article on the web this morning which stated Coleman's camp had brought forth some shady ballots???. . .just stating that re-counts really need to be protected. . .2000 does not seem so far away. . . .

Well, this endless haggling over a few ballots is no answer- and its not cheap either.

Now neither will be seen as legit.

Personally, I hope Franken gets the seat.

He'll improve the prospects for the Republican Party more than Coleman will.

I think both are equally unsuitable for the office.

I don't like either Franken or Coleman, but I thought the MN election results had Franken being the winner, and that Coleman is just prolonging the process. Isn't the argument he's using that all votes should be treated and counted by the same standard, and because different voting districts had different standards there's a basis to challenge? Personally I think each district can use their own judgement, if that's absolutely required. I would hope that most ballots have an obvious vote cast for a candidate.

There is no tie, Don Quijote is correct that if Coleman was in the lead by one vote then no Republicans would call for a run-off.

As for the article stating that the Republicans are looking for people whose ballots were rejected.... am I to assume that Coleman would do the right thing and bring forth ballots for Franken if he uncovered some? Otherwise all Coleman is doing is suppressing the votes he doesn't like. Not very democratic.

Minnesota has handled this tense election in a transparent and laudable fashion. This was not the mess Florida was nor was it a tie. People take a civic, no nonsense view of government in the high turnout North-Central region and it shows. This was simply a very close race that is now over.

NA- I do agree that from everything I have read, the way Minnesota conducted the recount could be a model for the rest of the country.

Unfortunately, the loser's decision to seek legal redress leaves the state with only one senator for an unknowable period of time. its all legal but it hurts the legitimacy of the final victor.