Franken camp projects narrow win

MINNEAPOLIS, Dec. 20 (UPI) -- Al Franken's campaign said Saturday it believes the Democrat will unseat U.S. Sen. Norm Coleman, R-Minn., by 35 to 50 votes when the recount is completed.

After the state's Board of Canvassers finishes its review and reallocation of ballots that were challenged by both campaigns, Franken's campaign said he will emerge Tuesday as the winner, The Hill reported.

"We now have enough data that I can say with a very high degree of confidence that Al Franken will win this count and be seated as the next senator from Minnesota," Franken attorney Marc Elias said.

Elias also criticized a lawsuit filed by the Coleman campaign before the Minnesota Supreme Court to prevent the board from including as many as 150 so-called duplicate ballots in the final count.

"There is no evidence that any of the ballots were counted twice. None," Elias said.

Coleman had maintained a narrow lead throughout most of the contested election and recount until Franken took the lead during the review of challenges Friday.

The Minneapolis Star Tribune reported the state Supreme Court said Thursday that improperly rejected absentee ballots must be counted by the board.