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Coleman Attorney: Victory Is "Conceivable" -- But Not Likely
Norm Coleman is expected to file a legal challenge to Al Franken's victory in the Minnesota recount, after the state canvassing board certifies the numbers this afternoon. But does his campaign actually think they have anything more than a very long shot at this?
Check out what lead Coleman attorney Fritz Knaak told the Star Tribune, emphasis ours:
"It's conceivable, I'm not saying probable or likely, but conceivable that in a ... [court] contest, we could see these numbers change by hundreds on both sides," he said. "Everything is on the table and it's a different game."
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MN Supreme Court decision denying Coleman's emergency petition is out---kicks the question of the 654 disputed absentee ballots that Coleman wanted to include in this count to an election contest. Looks like the path is totally clear for the Canvassing Board to declare Franken the winner this afternoon.
Cheers.
January 5, 2009 12:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
NO MORE QUIMBY!
NO MORE QUIMBY!
NO MORE QUIMBY!
NO MORE QUIMBY!
NO MORE QUIMBY!
NO MORE QUIMBY!
NO MORE QUIMBY!
NO MORE QUIMBY!
NO MORE QUIMBY!
NO MORE QUIMBY!
NO MORE QUIMBY!
NO MORE QUIMBY!
NO MORE QUIMBY!
NO MORE QUIMBY!
NO MORE QUIMBY!
NO MORE QUIMBY!
January 5, 2009 12:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
Growing wings and flying is also "conceivable" and just as "unlikely."
Almost anything is "conceivable." Pink elephants...
January 5, 2009 12:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
I love how the main stream media, and TPM sometimes loves to tout the headline "Coleman camp confirms it will file election contest" or some such thing.
These are Coleman's lawyers, not his campaign. Lawyers ALWAYS want to file suit in cases like this. They ALWAYS say their client's case has merit and will succeed in the end. They are paid to say those things. They do not make the decision to actually file suit. Only Norman will make that decision and we have yet to hear from Norman.
The odds that he will drop this matter increased geometrically this morning. I bet he bows out later this week.
January 5, 2009 12:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
The trouble is that Norm has really followed the "challenge" book.
Without basis, first he challenged numerous ballots so that he would always stay "in the lead" in the daily counts, posted online and elsewhere. Then, he fought the inclusion of absentee ballots in the recount figures. Next he argued that we needed to include these ballots (because, of course, once we counted all the challenged ballots he needed about 50 votes). And, down 225 votes, he's looking for the inclusion of more absentee ballots.
There are a whole host of reasons NOT to contest this election. For one, he'd have to overcome a presumption of legitimacy. For another, even assuming some of the ballots should have been counted, he'd have to pick up a net of at least 226 votes. Following a recount, this seems virtually impossible.
But, this is Norm Coleman. He's as vested in DC and in the underworld of politics as Franken is removed from it. Franken's a guy who hosts twenty-five dollar fund raisers. Coleman's a guy who hosts fund-raisers and charges you twenty-five bucks to park your car while attending them.
January 5, 2009 3:34 PM | Reply | Permalink