Franken Camp's Claim: We're Only Down By 84 Votes

[kpete]

Franken Camp's Claim: We're Only Down By 84 Votes
By Eric Kleefeld - November 25, 2008, 1:30PM

A key new development in Minnesota: The Franken campaign is now giving an actual figure for what they think their true current deficit against Norm Coleman is -- an estimated statistic that has proven elusive in this drawn-out process.

"The differential between the two candidates is 84 votes," lead Franken recount lawyer Marc Elias just told a press briefing. "That obviously is down from the starting point of 215."

The public numbers from the Star Tribune currently show Coleman ahead by 210 votes, with 77% of the total ballots recounted. But the Franken campaign points to an obvious flaw in those numbers: All challenged ballots, regardless of the merits of the challenges, are taken out of the count for now until the state canvassing board can make a final ruling.

The Franken camp, however, says its observers have taken down what the opinions were of the on-site election judges, and get their number by assuming that the local officials' calls will ultimately be upheld.

more at:
http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/11/franken_camps_claim_were_only.php

[polichick]

1. Smart of Franken to keep the public aware of what's happening.

[Occam Bandage]

2. Well, that depends on how the challenges shake out. At this point, nobody really konws much. nt

[AtomicKitten]

3. If Franken wins by 27 votes, Nate Silver must be bronzed and dangled from my rear-view mirror.

That guy is wicked accurate.

[Cleita]

4. Not only that I will promise my youngest granddaughter in marriage to him

complete with dowry.

[Diane R]

5. Do we know which areas are left to count? Are they pro-Coleman, or Franken?

[high density]

6. delete

Oops

[JCMach1]

7. Challenged ballots sit on the sidelines until the rest are counted...

That means it is much closer than 210.