Coleman, Franken duking it out in a race too close to call

[Indi Guy]

Source: Star Tribune

Last update: November 4, 2008 - 11:48 PM (12:48 EST)

One of the most bitter U.S. Senate races in Minnesota's history ground to an end Tuesday night, with Republican U.S. Sen. Norm Coleman and Democratic challenger Al Franken duking it out across the state in an election marked by strong Democratic turnout.

Early exit polls showed Franken leading Coleman, buoyed by a tidal wave of Democrats -- including large numbers of first-time voters -- who had already delivered the state's electoral votes to Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama. The exit polls showed Independence Party candidate Dean Barkley trailing a distant third.

Early returns showed Franken with a narrow lead when this edition of the Star Tribune went to press...



Read more: http://www.startribune.com/politics/national/senate/33829369.html?elr=KArksc8P:Pc:U0ckkD:aEyKUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUU

[wtmusic]

1. Coleman up by a few thousand votes per CNN

a short time ago. :scared:

[Indi Guy]

2. Remember that the winner has to get over 50% in Min.

...otherwise there's a runoff.

[Kilroy003]

4. I don't think that is true.

At least I've never heard it. I know you need a majority in some states, just not MN.

[Indi Guy]

9. I could be wrong, but I believe that in a MN senate race - you need at least 50% to win outright n/t

[Common Sense Party]

5. Huh?

Isn't that only in a primary?

[dflprincess]

6. It would be nice if that were true, but it's not

A candidate can win with less than 50% (Jesse Ventura was elected governor in a 3 way race with about 35% of the vote). In Minnesota all it takes is a plurality, not a majority which is why we need instant run off voting.

[krkaufman]

13. Maybe that'll be a beneficial side effect of this election. nt

[Common Sense Party]

3. Gap has widened from 5500 to 10,159 votes in last 30 minutes

Republican NORM COLEMAN 984357 42.12
Democratic-Farmer-Labor AL FRANKEN 974198 41.69

with 84.6% of precints reporting

[glinda]

7. Possible pending issues

with Somali interpreters telling Somalis to vote for Coleman in the voting booths and possible other problems. Maybe they will add up in Franken's favor. I hope.

[asksam]

8. We've got to stop the Rethugs from stealing this election

[Indi Guy]

10. Current MSNBC Map - Coleman 42% _ Franken 42% (81% of precincts reporting)

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25362448

[Common Sense Party]

11. Franken down by 12,055 votes. 87.89% reporting nt

[Indi Guy]

12. Link? n/t

[Common Sense Party]

14. Sure, sorry:

http://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us/20081104/ElecRslts.asp?M=S&R=S

I think I got it upthread somewhere.

[Indi Guy]

16. Your source is "unofficial" - Checkout MSNBC...

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25362448

[Common Sense Party]

18. "My" source is the MN Secretary of State.

MSNBC is more official than MN? I think not.

[krkaufman]

15. Well, here's hoping that Coleman gets dragged down by scandal ...

... if he pulls out a squeaker against Franken.

[Kilroy003]

20. Meth,Sex, etc.

Pastor Ted Haggard along with Michelle Bachman in his little basement bedroom... Jeff Gannon can bring sushi.

[Common Sense Party]

17. 15,455 votes. 89.18% reporting

http://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us/20081104/ElecRslts.asp?M=S&R=S

It's close, still...but not as close.

[Indi Guy]

19. Look at the Header of the source you quote...

"UNOFFICIAL RESULTS GENERAL November 4, 2008" -- http://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us/20081104/ElecRslts.asp?M=S&R=S

[Common Sense Party]

21. And? Results aren't official until the counting is over.

This is the official State elections result website. As each precinct reports their votes, this is where the Secretary of State posts them. They don't post them directly on MSNBC.


Also on the MSNBC website you're using:

Results are based on NBC News projections and unofficial returns, and are updated frequently.

[Indi Guy]

22. You may be right, however...

89% of precincts reporting...

Norm Coleman (Rep) - 1,035,343 42%
Al Franken (Dem) - 1,028,120 42%
Dean Barkley (Inp) - 374,136 15%

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25362448

[Common Sense Party]

24. Great, and with 90.68% of precincts reporting....

Republican NORM COLEMAN 1065443 42.26
Democratic-Farmer-Labor AL FRANKEN 1048575 41.59

http://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us/20081104/ElecRslts.asp?M=S&R=S

[Common Sense Party]

25. Down by 12,981 with 91.82% reporting

Republican NORM COLEMAN 1095431 42.20
Democratic-Farmer-Labor AL FRANKEN 1082450 41.70

[Indi Guy]

26. Franken is down by about 3,000 votes...

Norm Coleman (Rep) * 1,060,635 42%
Al Franken (Dem) 1,057,234 42%
Dean Barkley (Inp) 383,868 15%

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25362448

[Indi Guy]

27. While it doesn't look good for Franken (down by less than 1,000 votes) 95% reporting...

Norm Coleman (Rep) * 1,140,732 42%
Al Franken (Dem) 1,139,657 42%
Dean Barkley (Inp) 412,983 15%

There's still no check mark for Coleman here -- http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25362448

[Dumak]

29. Franken now UP by 1000 votes, 96% reporting

the suspense is unbearable

[Indi Guy]

23. Dupe

[Dr Fate]

28. Now reporting Al ahead:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x7782680

[xochi]

30. With 99 percent of precincts in, Franken is short just 762 votes

and calling for a recount. CNN's still not calling it. Wow!

[PassingFair]

31. Kick.

Any word on this one?

[Bearware]

32. Maybe Al with be a little more interested in election fraud now.

I donated to him and desperately hopes he wins. However, I remember years ago
when he was on Air America and was asked why he would not talk about election
fraud with/without the machines. He was very skeptical. I have not heard everything
he has said since but he could have made a big difference if he had started
hammering on it back then.
:banghead: :grr: :argh: :grr:

Thom Hartman pointed out yesterday, and has for years, that exit polls are used by
the UN to check for clean elections and are usually within 1%. They were quite
accurate in the US for decades until 2000 and then started varying by 10% or so.
HELLO!!!!!
:mad::argh::grr: :argh::mad:

If we had stopped this before last night we would have 60+ democrats in the Senate
next year.
HELLO!!!!!:mad:

If we had stopped this before the 2006 elections we might have had 60+ democrats in
the Senate.
HELLO!!!!!:mad:

The DLC democrats don't think voters are interested in this stuff because they see
it as "process" rather than "issue".
:wtf: :mad::grr: :mad:

Because of this we may have to wait another two years to effectively react to our
crashed economy. We might be able to change it sooner if we don't "play nice" and
start indicting these guys for the crimes they have been committing.
:nuke:

Does anybody know if they will be issuing DINO hunting licenses in 2010? :evilgrin:

[Indi Guy]

33. And the beat goes on n/t

[Indi Guy]

34. ###

Norm Coleman (Rep) * 1,211,644 42%
Al Franken (Dem) 1,211,167 42%
Dean Barkley (Inp) 437,382 15%