Polinaut: November 20, 2008 Archive

The Daily Digest: 11-20-08

Posted at 9:56 AM on November 20, 2008 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: Daily Digest

It's Day 2 of the recount. Both GOP Sen. Norm Coleman and Democrat Al Franken lost votes as ballots are challenged.

The Star Tribune and AP say Coleman's lead shrinks.

Forum Communications says Coleman has the overall vote lead after Day 1.

MPR, the Pi Press and AP have recount looks from across the state.

The New York Times says patience and politeness ruled the day.

Beltrami County finished its recount.

A judge grants Franken access to the list of those who had their absentee ballots rejected.

Democrat Al Franken meets with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. AP and the Star Tribune have stories.
http://www.twincities.com/politics/ci_11027454

Congress

GOP Rep. Michele Bachmann again tries to say she didn't suggest that Barack Obama or other members of Congress are anti-American and called it an Urban Legend. Does she not know that videotape exists?

The Senate leader calls off a vote on the auto bailout.

Obama

Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano is expected to head Homeland Security.

Former Senator Tom Daschle accepts the post as Health and Human Services Secretary.

State Government

The state will release the unemployment numbers this afternoon.

Pawlenty will push online learning today.

Minnesota's property taxes take a smaller jump.

2012 (it hurts my head to even write this)

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee won't rule out another run for president.

Coleman on the recount

Posted at 4:44 PM on November 20, 2008 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: Recount

GOP Sen. Norm Coleman held a conference call this afternoon to talk about the recount. The Weekly Standard writes about the details:

The recount began yesterday. Counties will continue their work over the next week. Some may not conclude until after Thanksgiving. But a lot more information will be available after today. Coleman noted that Minnesota has 4130 precincts. 4112 have newer, more accurate optical screener machines. In all of the precincts where the optical screener machines were in place, very small to no changes occurred in the early recount (2-5 votes swings some for Coleman, or the same number for Franken, but no real appreciable net changes).

Minnesota, also has 18 precincts with older, less accurate machines. In the counts taken in those areas yesterday, Coleman lost a net 28 additional votes.

Coleman estimates that as of now he's ahead by roughly 170 votes. Many of the big Republican counties have not yet conducted their recounts, according to Coleman. The Minnesota senator sounded upbeat about victory at the end of the day and concluded with a fitting hockey metaphor: "We're on the ice and its time to put the puck in the net."

I asked Coleman's campaign why Minnesota media wasn't told about the call. Coleman's spokesman Mark Drake said the call was supporters only. When pressed he said that his guess is that a supporter probably tipped off the Weekly Standard about the call.