Associated Press
Democrat Al Franken edged ahead of Republican incumbent Norm Coleman on Friday for the first time in Minnesota’s long-running U.S. Senate recount.
Franken opened up a slight lead by the end of the fourth day of a state Canvassing Board meeting to decide the fate of hundreds of disputed ballots.
The change was notable because Coleman led Franken in election-night returns and held a 188-vote lead before the board took up challenged ballots. But its significance was limited, with the possibility that the lead could change again before the long recount ends.
The board wrapped up work Friday in the phase of the recount that resolves disputed ballots. Franken led by 262 votes.
But Coleman and Franken are waiting to see how much they gain from about 5,000 challenges that they withdrew, and the board will not allocate those until Monday.
The outcome of the recount also depends on an estimated 1,600 absentee ballots that were improperly rejected. The state Supreme Court ruled Thursday that those ballots must be counted and set a Dec. 31 deadline for counties to work with the candidates to identify and tally them.
The high court’s ruling virtually guaranteed that the recount would last into the new year. With Congress set to convene Jan. 6, Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R) said his staff is researching the possibility of a temporary appointment.
But he said it is unlikely that will be necessary because he expects the recount to be resolved by then.