Late night count tight as Iron Range vote still out

The vote between Al Franken and Norm Coleman is quite tight right now, but many precincts in the Arrowhead haven’t reported yet. It looks like there might more than a thousand net votes for Franken in St. Louis, Itasca and Carlton counties. St. Louis County is at 24,331 to 38,920 with 43 precincts that haven’t been reported in a county (that’s going 54-33 for Franken).

The numbers are jumping around on the SOS website, so we can’t say what’s happening — Coleman might be pulling away. As of 2:35 a.m., the total for Coleman is 1,159,480, Franken 1,146,967. At 2:38, that gap jumped to 1,168,055-1,154,266. However, the key Iron Range-Arrowhead DFL constituency is coming in strong for Franken.

If there’s a chance, it’s here!
UPDATE 2:53 a.m.: The Coleman lead is down to 6,802 on the SOS site, with 4,044 of 4,130 precincts reporting statewide.
UPDATE 3:05 a.m.: Coleman’s lead has ticked back up to 6,993, with 4,056 precincts counted, so it looks pretty tough for Franken to pull it off. However, a recount might be in the making.
UPDATE 3:15 a.m.: It looks like an automatic recount is likely. From the 2006 SOS recount manual:
"There is an automatic recount for state and federal contests in a general election when the difference between the votes of the winning candidate and any other candidate is less than 0.5 percent of the total number of votes counted for that office; or if the difference in vote count is 10 votes or less for an office in which 400 votes or less votes were cast (M.S. 204C.35). The governing body assumes the responsibility for the expenses of the recount; however, the losing candidate may waive the recount by filing a written notice of waiver with the canvassing board (M.S.204C.35, subd. 1)."
Source: http://www.sos.state.mn.us/docs/recount_guide_-final_draft_11-29-2006.pdf (Probably a good time to start reading the fine print in this one.)

No Responses to “Late night count tight as Iron Range vote still out”

1. gboone42 Says:
   November 5th, 2008 at 2:11 am

   two questions: 1. is a recount mandatory at this point, or does Franken need to call and pay for it? 2. Any ideas on why the AP numbers are different than the SOS? AP (I think) still shows Franken ahead by about the same margin that the SOS shows Coleman ahead by. I believe the SOS over AP any day, just wondering if anyone has a good answer. Are there exit polls in the mix or what?

2. Holly Cairns Says:
   November 5th, 2008 at 3:08 am

   Right now it’s Coleman with 1203188 and Franken with 1200761

   And Duluth and Richfield are out! Traditionally Democrat!

   You can do it, Franken. And then get to work.

   He’s not going to win by 5 points, though. I wrong about that. Obama pull and well known name, but not by 5 points.