Internal Data Indicates That Al Franken leads By Just 4 Votes In Minnesota Recount

The Al Franken Campaign is claiming that internal data from the Minnesota senate recount has given him a scant 4 vote lead. However, it is nearly certain that incumbent Republican Senator Norm Coleman will sue and challenge some of the ballots in an attempt to overturn the election.

This recount has been controversial because some ballots were missing, and disputed ballots were counted according to a judge's ruling which could be subject to an overturn if another court is given the case and should rule differently that they should not be counted.

Already some conservative writers such as Ann Coulter are crying foul, and recently wrote a piece referring to Minnesota as the "land of a thousand fakes", somehow suggesting that many of the now counted Al Franken ballots are not really legitimate votes.

In a strongly Democratic year, Al Franken lagged strongly behind Barack Obama partly because of his controversial nature as a comic, where so many voters just could not take him completely seriously as well as his sometimes meanspirited nature. Norm Coleman also lost respect among many voters as well. Essentially the race came down to a choice of who voters hated less. And a third party candidate made a strong statement as well as a home for the "none of the above" voters.

While the Al Franken side may be claiming a cautious victory, this thing is far from done. Likely far more lawsuits and legal wrangling will result, and it will likely be up to judges and the courts to decide which votes will actually be counted in the end.