Minnesota's U.S. senate race remains murky

ST. PAUL, Minn., Nov. 5 (UPI) -- Incumbent U.S. Sen. Norm Coleman, R-Minn., claimed victory Wednesday as his Democratic challenger laid the groundwork for a recount.

Democrat Al Franken, a writer and former performer on NBC's "Saturday Night Live," said in a statement the race "too close to call, with a margin of just about 1,000 votes out of 2.9 million cast."

With 100 percent of the precincts reporting, Coleman captured 42 percent of the vote, to Franken's 41.97 percent, the Minnesota Secretary of State's office reported. Independent candidate Dean Barkley captured 15 percent of the vote.

Franken said his office and the Minnesota office of President-elect Barack Obama received reports of irregularities at precincts around the state.

Meanwhile, the Republican incumbent said he was "humbled and grateful for the victory that the voters gave us last night," the Star Tribune in Minneapolis reported.

Recounts are required in Minnesota in races in which the winning margin is less than one-half of 1 percent.

The Minnesota Canvassing Board will meet Nov. 18 to canvass the votes, the Secretary of State's Web site said.

If a recount occurs, it will take place after the canvass. The recounted total, as approved by the canvassing board, would become the official election result, the office said.