Franken Camp: Coleman Has Made Recount A Whole Lot More Difficult
In a briefing with reporters just now, the Franken campaign laid the blame squarely at the feet of the Coleman campaign for the failure to reach agreement on counting wrongly-rejected absentee ballots.
Lead Franken attorney Marc Elias said that the local officials throughout the state have come up with a list of about 1,350 rejected ballots, submitting them to the candidates for final approval under the rules laid out by the state Supreme Court. The Franken campaign was willing to accept that list -- but the Coleman people have not, preferring to instead offer their own set of other ballots that skew heavily towards Coleman's strongholds.
"If they had accepted that offer, it would have simplified matters," said Elias. "Now it's going to be ballot by ballot, county by county."
"We're gonna get reports during the day as to how this process is going on in the various counties," Elias added. "The Coleman campaign has never been particularly interested in having these ballots counted. But we'll see what strategy they wind up bringing into these counties."
The Minn. Supremes need to get their heads out of their asses. Coleman has basically flipped them the bird by refusing to operate in good faith under their previous wishy-washy ruling. So it's time for them to stop screwing around and just order that all the ballots on that list of 1350 be counted, period, whether either candidate likes it or not. Since when do campaigns get to have a veto over a voter's right to have a validly cast vote counted?
December 30, 2008 1:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
According to commentators on TheUptake.org the MN law holds voting by absentee ballots as a privilege without a specific "right" to having the absentee vote counted. Theoretically, since the parties have not complied with the MN supreme court decision and the agreed-upon rules, the whole issue could become moot and Franken will prevail by 50 votes. As soon has the state canvassing board certifies the count, Coleman's flacks will be off to court with an election contest. When that happens it will be interesting to see what Harry and the jellyfish do.
December 30, 2008 1:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
The Coleman Campaign is screwing itself. The Court made clear that each party had better act in good faith. There's no discernible good-faith argument for why ballots should only be counted in Coleman strongholds, and the Coleman folks haven't even tried to present one.
They're toast!
December 30, 2008 1:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
If they have to decide on all 1350 ballots again this is going to be 2 against 1, Franken's people and the local officials against Coleman's. The excuses are progressively being stripped away until all Norm's guys are gonna have left is admitting "Coleman won't win if we do it that way".
December 30, 2008 1:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
Anybody knows on which basis the Coleman camp rejects most of the 1350 ballots? They must aruqe a reason, other than it is not good for us, I assume.
December 30, 2008 2:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
"Stuart Saves His Family" was a GREAT movie.
December 30, 2008 2:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
I am sorry, I should look at what I write. It should read: They must argue a reason, other than that is is not good for them.
December 30, 2008 2:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
No, I think in Coleman's case he should aruqe a reason. That's at least as logical as the crap he's currently shoveling into the fan.
December 30, 2008 2:32 PM | Reply | Permalink