"Unfortunately if they find the missing 133 ballots or decide to use the machine count numbers for that precinct Franken will win by 4 votes." No, the 133 "lost ballots" will only be a net pickup of 37 votes for Franken if they decide to include them.
Okay. I’ve asked this before but no one seems willing (or able) to give an answer.
I go to the Minnesota Secretary of State site and this is what they tell me:
Statewide Recount Results for US Senate
Totals
Nov. 4 Ballots Cast for Norm Coleman 1210995
Nov. 4 Ballots Cast for Al Franken 1210285
Recounted Data Totals Percent
RECOUNT Number of Ballots for Coleman (as recounted) 1208344 41.41
RECOUNT Number of Ballots for Franken (as recounted) 1207657 41.38
RECOUNT Number of All Other Ballots (as recounted) 495475 16.98
RECOUNT COLEMAN and Other Ballots Challenged By FRANKEN 3280 0.11
RECOUNT FRANKEN and Other Ballots Challenged By COLEMAN 3375 0.12
Percentage of Ballots Recounted = 99.93 %
Ssorry about the formatting but you get the idea. Anyhow, according to the numbers shown there, with all but one precinct recounted, Coleman has a lead of 687 votes over Franken. How the Sam Hill can anyone say that either man has a 42 vote lead? Is there something I’m missing (aside from my mind, that is?) The only place they’re closer than the 687 is with the challenged ballots where Franken is “ahead” by 95.
Please, someone explain this mathmatical puzzle to me.