MN is a good government state, and like WA (see 2004 Gov. race), a close election is a close election, with the results likely to be accepted by the voters. And Minnesotans take their voting seriously. In 2008, 78.2% of voters turned out (see Minnesota Leads Nation in Voter Turnout for Seventh Straight Election Cycle.) They make us Nutmeggers (67.2%) look like slackers. And as of now, those MN voters want their junior Senator seated.
Want proof? PPP has it (MoE +/- 3.5.)
A strong majority of Minnesota voters think that Norm Coleman should concede the race for US Senate, that Tim Pawlenty should certify Al Franken as the winner, and that Franken should be seated immediately, the newest survey from Public Policy Polling finds.
63% of voters in the state think that Coleman should just concede the race himself. That includes almost all of Franken and Dean Barkley’s supporters, as well as a third of respondents who voted for Coleman last fall.
59% express support both for Pawlenty certifying Franken as the winner and for Franken being seated immediately.
While Democrats and Republicans predictably have different views about the various issues related to resolving the election, it’s notable that independent voters fall on Franken’s side with 61% thinking Coleman should concede and 54% saying Franken should be certified and seated.
"With the ruling of the three judge panel it appears that most Minnesota voters are now ready for this election be over," said Dean Debnam, President of Public Policy Polling.
"Folks seem to think that Franken is the rightful winner and that he should be allowed to take his seat instead of the process being dragged out further.
You know all that speculation about Coleman ruining his career and the reputation of the GOP in the process of acting like a sore loser obstructionist? All true. Chris Cillizza:
As we've written before, the political futures of Coleman and Pawlenty are entwined in what comes next in this race. Stay tuned.
The only problem with that is that Coleman doesn't have a political future anymore. And if Pawlenty intends to run for President, he's apparently trying to not carry MN.
Good government voters really don't appreciate this kind of bullshit.