Al Franken Opens Up a Lead in Minnesota Senate Race

The lead is slight, and probably temporary. This was the fourth day of Canvassing Board meeting to decide the fate of hundreds of disputed ballots. At the end of the day, Franken led by 262 votes.

This is first time Al Franken has led Norm Coleman, who led after election night and also had a 188-vote lead before the board took up the question of the challenged ballots.

Besides the 1,500 ballots Canvassing Board members reviewed, another 5,000 previously withdrawn challenges must be included in the secretary of state’s tally. That should be completed before the Canvassing Board meets again Monday or Tuesday.

And let us not forget the estimated 1,600 absentee ballots that were ruled improperly rejected by the Minnesota State Supreme Court on Thursday. Those ballots must be counted, and the court set a Dec. 31 deadline for counties to work with the candidates to identify and count them.

While Coleman's camp seems to believe that he will be re-elected, it seems more likely that this will be challenged in court, even after the recount is complete.