Posted on 01/21/2009 10:00:52 PM PST by Red Steel
While lawyers argued a motion to dismiss Coleman's suit for more vote counting, he and Franken were in Washington making their cases there.
Minnesota's U.S. Senate battle played out on two fronts Wednesday, as Norm Coleman and Al Franken met separately with national party leaders in Washington while their lawyers squared off in a St. Paul courtroom.
"Reports of my defeat are greatly exaggerated," Coleman said in an interview after a luncheon meeting with Republican senators. "Franken's lead is artificial. Any attempt to shut off this process is not going to succeed."
Franken, in a joint appearance with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., suggested that the race is all but over. "President Obama said [Tuesday] that we've got to work and address the problems that we have, so that's what we're doing here today."
With Franken's 225-vote lead after a lengthy recount certified by Minnesota's Canvassing Board, Reid said, "The race in Minnesota is over with. ... There's no way the elections results are going to change."
Earlier in the day, Reid said the Senate will "probably" try to seat Franken, but didn't say when. In their closed-door meeting, the two reportedly discussed Franken's role in the upcoming Senate agenda, including possible committee assignments. "That's still a work in progress," Reid said.
For his part, Coleman said enough irregularities have been found to reverse the outcome. "There's no question the votes are there to overcome a very slim lead," he said. Seating Franken before he obtained an election certificate in Minnesota would be "way out of line," Coleman said.
Meanwhile, in St. Paul, lawyers for Franken accused Coleman of launching a "fishing expedition" in his challenge of the recount. They urged the three-judge panel to dismiss the lawsuit seeking a wide-ranging court fight over the outcome.
(Excerpt) Read more at startribune.com ...
Gotta hand it to Coleman, despite everything against him, other than the actual votes, he’s still hanging in there.
I do wonder where the GOP is on this. Call me silly, but shouldn’t the entire GOP be raising hell. I figure if McCain can get all giddy at Clinton being Secretary of State, surely he can back Coleman. Oh wait, he’s a Republican, not a rat.
“With Franken’s 225-vote lead after a lengthy recount certified by Minnesota’s Canvassing Board, Reid said, “The race in Minnesota is over with. ... There’s no way the elections results are going to change.”
Is that like “the war is lost” Harry?
They are cannot be bothered because they are in prostration to their new King Messiah.
Last I read, a few days ago, smiley had a 225 vote lead and 3 districts reported more votes for smiley than there were voters in those districts.
good point ... oh where oh where is the GOP? I sure get the phone calls for donations but they have been absent in this election where it counts!
The invertebrates are looking for their testicles and not having much luck.
You mean risking the Democrats getting angry at them? Annoying the sacred Obama? Upsetting Maverick McCain?
Not likely.
They keep doing it over and over again and getting away with it.
This kind of stuff doesn't get resolved at the ballot box or in the courts.
How was there a 500 vote swing from election night, Coleman leading, to Franken leading by 250??
A piece of advice for dingy Harry Reid.........Stay the F**K out of state business. The people of Minnesota are going to settle this, not some wimpy water boy.
Coleman won already.....the recount was done in such a way to include votes not in the original vote count....which is insane...a recount is counting the same thing again....it shouldn’t include new, found or reconsidered ballots....
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