The board's decision is certain to lead to another court challenge by the Coleman camp, which will extend the contest for at least several more weeks. "Given our campaign's unwavering commitment to ensuring that the vote of no Minnesotan is disenfranchised, today's ruling by the Minnesota Supreme Court is both disappointing and disheartening," Coleman attorney Fritz Knaak said in a statement.
"The fact that the Franken campaign now rejects the notion of every valid vote being counted so they can attempt to declare victory on the basis of a broken process, and an artificial lead built on double counting of votes should concern all Minnesotans." For his part, Franken attorney Marc Elias said the ruling "once again affirmed the validity of the rules under which this recount was conducted. Minnesotans have waited a long time for a winner to be declared in this race, and today, with the last attempt to halt the counting process now having failed, Al Franken will be declared the winner." Senate Majority Leader Reid called on Coleman to give up. "I would hope now that it is clear he lost, that Sen. Coleman follow his own advice and not subject the people of Minnesota to a costly legal battle."
