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Coleman to challenge Franken victory

By Eric Fingerhut · January 6, 2009

WASHINGTON (JTA) -- Norm Coleman said he will challenge Al Franken's U.S. Senate victory in court.

The Minnesota senator, a Republican, told reporters Tuesday he would contest the recount, which ended with Franken prevailing by 225 votes, to "make absolutely sure every valid vote was counted and no one's was counted more than anyone else's," according to media reports.

Coleman, who served one term in the U.S. Senate, brushed aside calls by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) to drop his challenge.

"This race will be decided by Minnesota voters, not Harry Reid," Coleman said.

Minnesota state law prevents the certification of an election until all legal challenges are settled, which means the seat could be vacant for weeks or months.

The race between Franken, the former "Saturday Night Live" writer and performer, and Coleman was the only Senate campaign in 2008 that featured two Jewish candidates.
 

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