Al Franken Claims 10 Vote Lead, But Only If ...

Caleb Howe has been all over the Minnesota recount, but I thought I would spare him the devastation of reporting that Al Franken has taken the lead! Wow. Who knew all it took to "take' the lead was to claim it? I hereby declare I am in the lead. From TPM:

Franken's lead recount lawyer Marc Elias said that under the campaign's methodology -- which is not unreasonable, but has some necessary caveats -- they believe Franken is ahead by 10 votes as the first stage of the recount winds down.

And, no, Caleb, caveats are not those really expensive fish eggs that you spread on Triscuits. Apparently, Franken's 10 point lead depends on locating 133 missing ballots that were included in the original count, and includes assumptions about the result of ballot challenges. Specifically, Tommy, the "lead' requires the ability for Franken to predict with 100% accuracy how the canvassing board will judge challenged ballots. That's pretty reliable. Let's not forget the distinct possiblity that the 133 votes were phantom votes to begin with. It's happened several times already this recount. By the way, Franken called for a "forensic" search for the missing ballots. No, that doesn't sound desperate at all.

As the multiple disclaimers in TPM's story make clear, this lead of Franken's has the tensile strength of a Democratic filibuster, but if 2000 taught us anything, it's that acting like you're ahead is almost as important as actually being ahead. And if Al Franken has taught us anything, it's that you don't have to be funny be called a comedian. And if the recount has taught us anything, it's that you don't have to be a real person to be able to vote for Franken. And if Tommy Christopher has taught us anything, it's that you don't have to be a hunk to be a hack. Sit on it, Potsie!

With Saxby Chambliss' Palin-powered route of Jim Martin in the can, the stakes in this recount are somewhat diminished, but who isn't looking forward to Franken channeling Stuart Smalley on the Senate floor, or ushering Joe Piscopo into the Senate on his coattails? Diminished? Saxby put Franken into the inconvenient truth category. If I'm Harry Reid, I'm weighing 59 seats against, well, working with Al Franken. That's what you call a no-brainer.

One more thing. Norm Coleman's campaign attorney Fritz Knaak responded to the Franken claim during a press conference by saying, well fine, Coleman now leads by 2200 votes. "I have no evidence for this," he said, adding "I like the sound of it so here it is."

Tommy Christopher and Caleb Howe co-host "Unusable Signal", on BlogTalkRadio Tues - Thur at 10pm, and Fri, & Sat at 11pm. Click here for the Unusable Signal homepage.