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Eeeny Meeny Miny…

By Amy Sullivan | @sullivanamy | December 30, 2008 | +

As of this morning, Al Franken holds a 50-vote lead over Norm Coleman in the latest Minnesota Senate race tally. Next week the state Canvassing Board will declare a winner–or not. But if the margin remains this close, state law does provide the option of just drawing straws to see who gets to represent Minnesota in the Senate. I’m sure no one would have a problem with that.

Even with a difference of just a few dozen votes, this isn’t the closest U.S. Senate race on record. That distinction belongs to the 1974 New Hampshire contest, in which Democrat John Durkin ended up with a 10-ballot lead over Republican Louis Wyman–until a recount determined that Wyman had actually won by a whole two votes. Neither man was officially seated in the Senate, though, and ultimately the state held a new election in which Durkin handily defeated Wyman.

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  • queencersei

    How about a re-vote? Would probably be the cleanest way to go about it.
    Or have them face off in a sumo-wrestling contest if a re-vote is not doable.

  • pintortwo

    Dance-off!!
    Although I think Coleman would get served by Franken.

  • bobcn1

    ‘How about a re-vote?’
    .
    Franken has the most votes. Coleman will get his chance for a re-vote in six years.

  • Paul-no not that one

    This has been over for a while. Everything the Coleman camp has been doing is geared towards what they hope will be an angry state republican party.
    They aren’t factoring in the lack of enthusiasm for their candidate.
    .
    I do wonder how long Coleman will be able to hit up money men to fund his court challenges. At some point even the wealthy get tired of throwing good money after bad.

  • davemc321

    Maybe they could just take turns. One week, Franken goes to the Senate; the next week, Coleman goes.
    .
    Meanwhile, they can keep counting votes in Minnesota…

  • Andy from MA

    I think Coleman gets indicted before the recounts ends.

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  • stuartzechman

    Thank you for this timely and worthwhile post, Amy Sullivan.

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  • FlownOver

    I doubt the coin-flip could be used. I suspect the statute refers to a vote certified as “tied,” not “statistically tied.” Remember the three classes of falsehoods: lies, damn lies and statistics.

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