Coleman Leading Franken By Single Digit

The Minnesota recount has turned in Franken's favor once again, as the challenged ballot review has brought the estimated Coleman lead to within two votes. Also this week, the State Supreme Court ruled against the Coleman campaign, allowing previously rejected absentee ballots to be reviewed again, and counted if the reviewer determines they were erroneously rejected the first time.

The numbers will change dramatically, again, before this is over. In addition to the remaining challenged ballots, the challenges which have been withdrawn must be added back into the recount tally. A challenged ballot is a ballot which was initially counted, as in during the election day count, and which was later challenged by a campaign. At the time it is challenged it is set aside, so that vote, which previously counted for someone, is out of play. The withdrawn challenges will now be counted as they were originally counted on election night. So, for example, ten challenged ballots which were counted for Coleman would not have been counted for him during the recount. Having withdrawn the challenge, those ten will now go back to Coleman.

Throw in the additional votes now to be counted from previously rejected absentee ballots, and there is no question the vote margin will change many more times.

Tomorrow, we find out the official results of the recount and the challenged ballots. But if you think that means the election will finally be over for Minnesota, think again. Franken has already promised to challenge any result in which he is not the winner. I spoke with a Coleman campaign representative yesterday who declined to make a similar commitment.