Volunteers trained for Minn. recount

ST. PAUL, Minn., Nov. 15 (UPI) -- More than 400 volunteers showed up Saturday morning to train as observers for Democrat Al Franken in the U.S. Senate race recount in Minnesota.

Republican incumbent Norm Coleman's volunteers also came in for training elsewhere, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported.

The hand state-run recount is to start Wednesday with volunteer observers at the 120 locations to challenge any ballots they say are invalid. The two candidates are separated by about 200 votes after about 2.9 million ballots cast in the Nov. 4 election, triggering a recount mandated under state law.

So many people showed up for Franken at Macalester College in St. Paul that the group had to be divided in two.

Franken, a writer who became famous on "Saturday Night Live," got some additional star power from Bradley Whitford, who played presidential aide Josh Lyman on "The West Wing." Lyman thanked the crowd for volunteering to do what he called a "soul-sucking" job.

Franken drove the point home by leading a cheer: "What do we want? Patience. When do we want it? Now."