Recount, Day 3: Coleman hanging on to thin lead (down to 120 votes, ballots have gone 'missing')

Star Tribune ^

[Chet 99]

The wear and tear of the state’s U.S. Senate recount began to show Friday, as some counties reported missing ballots and a rising number of challenged ballots frayed nerves among counters and monitors alike.

As of Friday night, Republican Sen. Norm Coleman was hanging on to his whisker-thin lead over Democrat Al Franken. With 64 percent of the 2.9 million ballots recounted, Coleman was ahead by 120 votes, down from 136 at the end of Thursday and from the unofficial lead of 215 signed off on Tuesday by the state Canvassing Board.

The figures represent a compilation of recount data reported to the secretary of state and gathered by the Star Tribune.

[billva]

Why are you assuming Coleman will lose? With 64% counted (recounted) the statistics show Coleman's lead will stay. Franken would need to outperform the first 64% already counted (and that seems to have been in DEM solid places already, with GOP coming in later).

Damn, there you go being logical with folks that thrive on doom and gloom.

But you are right.

[Bellflower]

The Republicans need to take this opportunity to cross reference with a fine tooth comb every single ballot to make sure that they are legal and from real people. If they did this the whole thing could be turned around.

[randita]

I don’t understand the mindset of cheating to win.

Pete Rose cheated and he was banned from baseball, even the Hall of Fame.

Professional athletes who are proven to have taken performance enhancing drugs are disqualified and scorned.

There are very strict test cheating rules in college.

Yet politicians whose party machinery habitually cheats to win are rewarded with a place at the public trough and perpetual re-election.

Where and when do so many people learn that it’s perfectly acceptable, even admirable to cheat to win?

[rudman]

Except that the higher the population, the more tendency for that population to vote democratic. Additionally, the larger the precinct, the larger the chance for mistakes. The recount generally favors the democrat.

Look - Even Coleman is saying that he believes this recount is fair. if you are correct - then the Governors office, Tim Pawlenty’s office, is complicit in a cover up and is stealing the election for the democrats.

[RetiredArmy]

Really pitiful that Minnesotans allow an election be stolen like this. Where is the public outcry?

Too me, Minnesota is just a providence of the Soviet Union. It, and several other crawl on their knees and beg the government for free stuff, states.

[Fresh Wind]

They’re just peacefully, submissively accepting it as a fait accompli.

Franken used to be on TV. That's all most Murcans need to know.

[rudman]

Nonsense. A conservative message articulated clearly will beat a liberal message every time.

[Cboldt]

-- Where and when do so many people learn that it's perfectly acceptable, even admirable to cheat to win? --

"The ends justify the means." Success is measured by outcome, not by the path taken. That message is reinforced by most aspects of society; from education, to playground, to media messages, to business. Intellectual dishonesty is the tool of choice for politicians. "Nice guys finish last" isn't just a trite saying, it's the truth.

In a nutshell, the country has rejected moral compass.

[rudman]

Cherry, supporting RINOs is the reason the republican party just had its ass handed to it. You call me a wuss? Fine.

I don’t have an unblinking faith in all things republican. My faith is in family, Jesus Christ, and conservative principles. If a liberal runs as a republican, he/she won’t get my support.

So if that causes a democrat to take office - I know what I have really done is cleared the way for a true conservative - one who believes in free market, limited government, and christ as his lord and redeemer - to take the helm next election. Only when we as a party purge the liberals and moderates will we truly be a free country.

So - you are right - I can’t be counted on to support people that are opposed to my core principles. The fact that you can be says volumes about your lack of character.

[rudman]

I forgot to add, ScottinVA - go tell Michele Bachmann that a conservative message can’t win.

[rudman]

Well reasoned - and I struggled with this thought as well.

In the end, I had to stand with my faith and my conservative ideals. I found I couldn’t betray who I was - I just had to have faith that God knows what he is doing, and that it will all proceed according to his plan.

The other thought is that perhaps we as a nation overall need the example of liberal governance to appreciate what conservative ideals and principles are. Some people only learn not to touch a hot stove by touching it.

[johniegrad]

Anyway, what is amazing is that if the MN Republicans had dragged another 1000 or so to the polls that day who had not voted, the balance in the Senate and the future of our security through check and balance would not be in jeopardy.

Voter turnout in Minnesota is consistently the highest in the nation.

[llandres]

“”The other thought is that perhaps we as a nation overall need the example of liberal governance to appreciate what conservative ideals and principles are.””

Sounds like such a kind lesson - I fear so much worse will happen than that.