I spent some time yesterday and a few hours this am watching the MN canvassing board handle the contested ballot issues, and there is nothing surprising or unexpected in what they are doing.
Indeed, based on running (ha) through about 4000 of the original contested ballots, and seeing how others have allocated the ballots on the StarTribune site, in conjunction with how the board is acting I think Franken is going to come out ahead, at this stage.
It sounds likely that by the end of today they will have gone through all the Franken challenges. Which means by tomorrow Coleman's numbers will begin to dwindle. Right now they are at about +328 and will probably max out around 400-450.
A few things struck me in watching the process:
- They seem pretty accommodating in trying to determine voter intent.
- Even so, they are pretty definite about a number of different scenarios, and are rejecting more ballots (for logical reasons) then I did in my mock recount.
- I don't think they are letting it affect their decisions, but I get the vibe they are annoyed at the Coleman team, especially at the looming number of challenges, and at both campaigns for wanting to reinstate previously withdrawn challenges.
Board members also reiterated their belief that a slew of ballots facing them remain, in Ritchie’s words, "frivolous." As for the fact that the campaigns are restoring challenges they had previously withdrawn, Magnuson said, "we’re going to put them at the back of the train." If those restored challenges end up being frivolous, "this body is going to be very angry," he warned.
It is drama, slow drawn out drama.. but interesting nonetheless.
The canvassing board has recessed, explicitly deferring to the justices, who scheduled a 1 p.m. hearing on the Coleman camp’s request that they block counties and the Canvassing Board from counting improperly rejected absentee ballots. As many as 1,600 such ballots are at stake. The Franken campaign and the canvassing board oppose the move.
Coleman could we be arguing against the only chance he has at winning, if the contested ballot recount does not go his way