Franken Lead Likely to Increase Over Coleman
The Star Tribune reported that Democrat Al Franken extended his lead on Tuesday over Republican Norm Coleman in the U.S. Senate election.
After a three-judge panel counted about 350 formerly rejected absentee ballots on Tuesday morning, Franken, unofficially, added about 87 votes to the recount lead. These votes give Franken a margin of about 312 votes.
According to the Star Tribune, Franken added 198 ballots and Coleman added 111.
This result makes it likely that Franken will win the election lawsuit filed by Coleman in January that contests Franken’s 225-vote recount lead.
Coleman’s lawyer Ben Ginsberg said Coleman will appeal the case to the Minnesota Supreme Court. Ginsberg said one of the grounds for the appeal will be unequal treatment of the ballots.
According to the Pioneer Press, neither candidate contested the results and both kept a close eye on the three-judge panel.