Al Franken Closes in on Victory in Minnesota

After weeks of uncertainty and strong contentiousness at times, it is now strongly appears Democratic challenger Al Franken will squeak out a narrow victory and oust Republican incumbent Norm Coleman in a contest for a US Senate seat in Minnesota. Some ballots remain to be counted, but most experts and analysts believe not enough votes will be counted for Coleman to overcome the lead currently established by Franken. Coleman, facing inquiries and investigations by federal and state law enforcement officials over various improprieties already, would be yet another GOP seat to switch over to Democrats in the election, which numbers eight and consists of AK, OR, CO, NM, VA, NH, and NC. This eight seat increase for Democrats puts their numbers in the soon to convene 111th Congress at 57, with one Independent (Lieberman from Connecticut) and one Socialist (Sanders from Vermont) caucusing with the Dems to make their final number at 59. Republicans now stand at 41, the fewest they have had in the Senate since 1980.

http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/12/with_key_phase_in_recount_now.php

http://www.politico.com/blogs/scorecard/1208/Franken_expects_to_defeat_Coleman_by_3550_votes.html

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