Three months and counting. The interminable struggle between Al Franken and Norm Coleman

The Economist

WASHINGTON, DC, is focused on 2009 and John McCain’s candidacy seems a distant memory. Minnesota, however, is stuck in 2008. Al Franken, a Democratic challenger, and Norm Coleman, the incumbent Republican, continue to battle for a Senate seat. On February 3rd, three months after the election, a court ruled that 4,800 ballots might be recounted.

The spectre of Florida hangs over any close race. The “hanging chad” contest between Al Gore and George Bush in 2000 exposed the dysfunctional side of American democracy. Some argue that Minnesota’s recount has been riddled with human error. Many others prefer to view the fight as a model of open procedure. Everyone can agree, however, on at least one point: Minnesota’s process is very slow.

To read the article and a quote from CEIMN Director Mark Halvorson:
http://www.economist.com/world/unitedstates/displaystory.cfm?story_id=13...