Today: Possible Ruling From Minnesota Supreme Court
The Minnesota Supreme Court could possibly hand down a key ruling today in the Senate recount, relating to a lawsuit by Norm Coleman that alleges the double-counting of a small but potentially consequential number of absentee ballots. The Coleman campaign's requested remedy is to go back to the Election Night totals in 25 targeted precincts -- which would also undo any recount gains that Al Franken made in these areas, putting Coleman back in the lead.

Obama Attends Memorial For Late Grandmother
Barack Obama attended a memorial service yesterday for his late grandmother, Madelyn Dunham, who died the day before he was elected to the presidency. The Obama family and their friends scattered Dunham's ashes at an ocean overlook called the Lanai Lookout, the same spot where Obama scattered his mother's ashes.

Poll: Sky-High Ratings For Obama Transition, Cabinet Appointments
A new CNN poll has Barack Obama's at an 82% approval rating for how he's handled his transition, with 80% approving of his cabinet choices. Only 11% rated the cabinet picks as below average or poor, with 32% saying they are average, 38% saying they are above average, and 18% saying they're outstanding.

More New York Dems Coming Out Against Caroline Kennedy
The New York Times reports that more New York Democrats are voicing their opposition to appointing Caroline Kennedy to the Senate, due to factors ranging from an overly-aggressive publicity campaign to her refusal to commit to supporting the Democratic nominee against Mike Bloomberg next year. "If I were the governor, I would look and question whether this is the appointment I would want to make, whether her first obligation might be to the mayor of the City of New York rather than the governor who would be appointing her," said state Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver.

Denver Mayor: I Want Salazar's Senate Seat
John Hickenlooper, the mayor of Denver and a former businessman, has now confirmed that he is interested in the appointment to Ken Salazar's Senate seat and has spoken to Dem Gov. Bill Ritter about the opening. Polling has suggested that Hickenlooper would run well statewide, but Ritter also has a lot of other choices in a state that has swung strongly to the Democrats.

Corzine Calls For $1 Trillion Stimulus Over Two Years
New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine (D) has a new op-ed piece in the Washington Post, advocating an aggressive stimulus package totaling $1 trillion over two years. "This is a large sum," Corzine writes, "but if the spending is executed effectively, it should be a significant investment in our country's physical and human resources that will pay long-term dividends while also creating and saving jobs."

Obamas And Bidens To Appear At Ten Officials Inaugural Balls
Barack Obama, Joe Biden and their wives are now set to appear at a total of ten official balls to celebrate the inauguration, though it will just be to briefly stop by and wave to the crowds of well-wishers. This is less than Bill Clinton's 14 balls in 1997, greater than George W. Bush's eight from 2001, and equal to the number Ronald Reagan attended in 1985.

Poll: Blago The "Naughtiest" Politician This Year
A new pre-Christmas CNN poll asked respondents which politician has been the "naughtiest" this year, from among three choices and with their offenses listed. The winner, and by a landslide: Rod Blagojevich at 56%, followed by Eliot Spitzer with 23%, and John Edwards at 19%.