Coleman camp downplays Franken gain

MINNEAPOLIS, Dec. 3 (UPI) -- Sen. Norm Coleman's lawyer says he isn't getting too excited about the sudden discovery of 171 uncounted ballots in the tight Minnesota Senate recount.

The St. Paul Pioneer Press said Wednesday the discovery at a Maplewood fire station added 37 votes to Democratic challenger Al Franken's total, not enough to overtake the incumbent Republican.

"We are sort of past the point in this process where we get excited

about stuff like that," said Coleman attorney Fritz Knaak. "We have been through a few of these."

The newspaper said the Franken camp was buzzing a bit more as their candidate trimmed Coleman's lead to 303 votes as of Tuesday night with 93 percent of the ballots counted. Four counties began their recounts Wednesday.

The Minneapolis Star-Tribune said Wednesday Knaak predicted Franken would attempt to find a way to have the Democrat-dominated Senate decide the election on the assumption he will fall short in the recount.