Coleman files intent to appeal

ST. PAUL, Minn., April 20 (UPI) -- Norm Coleman filed official notice Monday he intends to appeal his apparent U.S. Senate race loss to Al Franken to the Minnesota Supreme Court.

Coleman, the Republican who held the seat the past six years, is fighting an uphill battle since a recount and subsequent election contest before a three-judge panel left him 312 votes behind Franken -- a Democrat who must still wait for Republican Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty and Democratic Secretary of State Mark Ritchie to certify his victory.

Coleman will try to convince the state's highest court another 4,000-plus absentee votes should be counted. If he loses this round, he could still venture into the federal courts.

Coleman spokesman Tom Erickson said the bulk of the candidate's argument will be forwarded to Supreme Court justices in the coming days, possibly this week.

Franken attorney Marc Elias said his client would seek to have all papers be filed for the appeal within two weeks.

"What we have now is the death throes of the Coleman legal effort," Elias said.

Coleman attorney Jim Langdon said it could be two weeks to two months before the Supreme Court hears oral arguments.

"I'm sure they're very sensitive to the passage of time in this matter and will do it as soon as they think it is reasonable under the circumstances," Langdon said.