Minnesota still waiting for Senate victor

ST. PAUL, Minn., June 25 (UPI) -- The Minnesota Supreme Court left Norman Coleman, Al Franken and the citizens of Minnesota in limbo Thursday without a ruling on the U.S. Senate race.

The court, which normally issues opinions on Thursday, heard arguments in the dispute three weeks ago. The close election was almost eight months ago, and Minnesota has had only one senator since January, when Republican Norm Coleman's term expired.

For both sides, the strain is beginning to tell, the Minneapolis Star-Tribune said.

"I think everyone's on the edge of their seat," said Jess McIntosh, a spokesman for Al Franken, the Democratic candidate, who was ahead by a whisker when the case went to the high court. "Al's never too far away from the phone at any given moment because it could happen any time."

Tom Erickson, a Coleman aide, said when he leaves him at the airport he fears the ruling will come as soon as Coleman is airborne.

"I'm afraid to even go to a movie," Erickson said.

Coleman has taken a new job, working for the Republican Jewish Coalition. Franken's staff said the former "Saturday Night Live" star spends a lot of time reading briefing books and studying Senate rules.