Begcich now has a 2400 vote lead in Alaska. This is important, as anything less than a 1600 or so lead would trigger an automatic, state-funded recount. The Stevens campaign would have to take from its legal defense funds to pay for a recount if the margin is greater than that.

AP calls it: Begcich defeats Stevens

 

1 down, 2 to go.

uh oh

 

hopefully the Dems lose the next two.

uh oh

 

hopefully the Dems lose the next two.

They'll lose GA. MN I just don't know - too close to call.

 

They'll lose GA. MN I just don't know - too close to call.

Yeah, I just don't see them winning GA.

runoffs can be crazy bastards though.

Nobody knows how either MN or GA will turn out until it's over. How many people said it was over for Begich in AK? These things are crazy.

They'll lose GA. MN I just don't know - too close to call.

 

If the Dems think they have a chance in hell at winning Georgia, they'll go all out to do so. This is not decided by any means.

A key, 1 county scale legal victory for the Franken team.

A Minnesota judge has granted a request by Democratic Senate candidate Al Franken for the release of information on voters whose absentee ballots were rejected.

 

Ramsey County Judge Dale Lindman directed the county to produce the data by the close of business Wednesday.

 

Franken wants the rosters of disqualified absentee voters in all 87 counties to determine if they were properly rejected in the counting of ballots for his close race with incumbent Sen. Norm Coleman.

 

Lindman's ruling applies only to Ramsey County, the state's second-largest county and the home of the state Capitol, but it represents a partial victory for Franken.

If they can get access to the records of the rejected absentee ballots in 1 county, then by the same legal reasoning, it's probable that they can pull off similar victories in other counties, especially if they do examine the reasons for absentee ballot refusal and find arguments about why some of them are in fact acceptable.

 

Unfortunately, this probably means we're going ballot by ballot state wide in terms of legal challenges, but with an election this close that's probably how it has to be done. If a ballot is to be rejected, there better be a solid legal reason, and so it makes sense to see what those reasons are.

Franken has taken the lead in Minnesota. This link is supposedly real time.

 

http://ww2.startribune.com/news/metro/elec...unt/msenco.html

Franken has taken the lead in Minnesota. This link is supposedly real time.

 

http://ww2.startribune.com/news/metro/elec...unt/msenco.html

At least for me, nothing at that link shows Franken in the lead.

whoops.. when i posted, 10% of the precincts had reported. then Franken had a 800 and change lead. With 12%, Coleman now has a 195 vote lead. guess it really is real-time.

by the way, i find it interesting that there is a county in MN called Chisago.

http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/whistl...ar-in-plymouth/

 

One of the ballots that Frankin is contesting.

Edited November 20, 200817 yr by Alpha Dog

http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/whistl...ar-in-plymouth/

 

One of the ballots that Frankin is contesting.

 

my guess, is that he's just trying to set presidence. (spl?) So if similar situations come up on Franken ballots, he can have them honored as well.

my guess, is that he's just trying to set presidence. (spl?) So if similar situations come up on Franken ballots, he can have them honored as well.

Yeah, I'm sure that's it.

Yeah, I'm sure that's it.

 

Coleman has challenged 105 Franken votes.

Franken has challenged 89 Coleman votes.

 

You don't think there is some negotiation/strategy involved in these challenges issued by Franken or Coleman's lawyers?

UPDATE..

 

17% of the votes counted, Coleman's lead is up to 181.

my guess, is that he's just trying to set presidence. (spl?) So if similar situations come up on Franken ballots, he can have them honored as well.

Here's about 10 more examples of challenged ballots from Minnesota Public Radio.

 

I think this one is my favorite:

Here's about 10 more examples of challenged ballots from Minnesota Public Radio.

 

I think this one is my favorite:

Clearly there are idiots all around us who can't follow simple instructions how to vote and should be locked away for their own safe keeping from the lizard people.

man some of those challenges are ridiculous.

I like how people took the trouble to go out of their way, stand in line and vote, and then decide to f*** around.

it's actually a fun game to play.

 

Ballot #1= Franken

Ballot #2= McCain

Ballot #3= Invalid

Ballot #4= Franken

Ballot #5= Franken (no other circle filled in for that race)

Ballot #6= Invalid

Ballot #7= Invalid

Ballot #8= Franken

Ballot #9= Barkley

Ballot #10= Barklet

Ballot #11= Invalid

Seriously, how did some of these people live long enough to be able to vote? It is NOT rocket science to fill in a f***ing oval for the candidate you want.

Seriously, how did some of these people live long enough to be able to vote? It is NOT rocket science to fill in a f***ing oval for the candidate you want.

The Lizard People have no need for rockets.

 

The Lizard People have no need for rockets.

QFT