Ruling May Not Fill Minnesota Senate Seat

[Purveyor]

A three-judge panel has the result of the Minnesota Senate race in its hands, at least for the time being. But that doesn’t mean Minnesota will have a senator anytime soon.

Lawyers for Democrat Al Franken and Republican Norm Coleman delivered their closing arguments in the case Friday, but nobody knows when the judges will issue a ruling, which could come down in multiple parts. From there, further court action could keep the case going for weeks or months.

Franken leads Coleman by 225 votes, and signals indicate Coleman is unlikely to overturn the result in the current court.

His legal team has sought to cast as much doubt as possible over the outcome in recent weeks, saying that a ruling on absentee ballots made by the court has rendered any ensuing counting of the votes incomplete.

Coleman’s team, which is currently appealing the results of a recount that gave Franken the lead, has suggested it could appeal the case further, and has the blessing of top Republicans including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.).

McConnell’s show of support is key, because Coleman might need to rely on national party funding to push forward. His campaign is dealing with a potentially dry bankroll after an anonymous website last week published a detailed donor list it says Coleman’s campaign inadvertently broadcast on its website.

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THE HILL: http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/ruling-may-not-be-enough-to-fill-minn.-senate-seat-2009-03-16.html

[bluestateguy]

1. So help me God if there is a do-over election

then Franken should boycott it, go to Washington and demand to be seated by Harry Reid.

But that would take balls. So never mind.

[WeDidIt]

2. It would be unconstitutional to hold a do-over election

It would be an ex post facto law as there is currently no provisions for how a do-over electioin would be conducted.

It would cause harm to Franken under the 14th amendment, abrogating his equal protection under the law.