U.S. Sen.  Norm Coleman today (Wednesday, Nov. 5) gently suggested that Democrat Al Franken concede the U.S. Senate race to him, thereby beginning the healing process.

A perhaps victorious and certainly tired U.S. Senator Norm Coleman, R-St. Paul, spoke to the press the morning after the senator arguably defeated Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Al Franken by some 700-odd votes.

Coleman gently suggested that Franken accept the result of the election and concede.

But Franken, in  a statement earlier today (Nov. 5), spoke of letting the ballot recount system work.

(Photo by T. W. Budig, ECM Capitol Reporter)

by T.W. Budig
ECM Capitol reporter

U.S. Sen.  Norm Coleman today (Wednesday, Nov. 5) gently suggested that Democrat Al Franken concede the U.S. Senate race to him, thereby beginning the healing process.

"The prospects of overcoming 725 votes is extremely, extremely, extremely, extremely remote,” said Coleman, speaking at his campaign office in St. Paul late morning.

"If you ask me what I would do, I would step back,” said Coleman.

Coleman, eyes red-rimmed from lack of sleep, opined that the Minnesota election system is sound — it's unlikely any great change in the ballot count would surface with a recount.

No hanging chads

"We're not dealing with hanging chads in Minnesota,” he said, referring to the famous wisps of paper in Florida that figured so largely in the 2000 presidential election.

U.S. Sen. Norm Coleman, D-MN, looks serious as he encourages challenger Al Franken to forego a recount following Tuesday's close election. (Photo by T.W. Budig, ECM Capitol Reporter)

His campaign is assembling a team to deal with the recount if one is carried out, Coleman indicated.

Under state law, because the margin of victory is so thin, a recount is automatically conducted.

But if Franken concedes, that would end the matter.

Begin the healing process

"My hope is that we would begin the healing process today,” said Coleman of closing the political divides in the state and nation.

Coleman hoped the recount, if one takes place, could be conducted without recriminations or charges.

In a statement today Franken indicated that he had no intentions of foregoing a recount.

"The process, dictated by our laws, will be orderly, fair, and will take place within a matter of days. We won't know for a little while who won this race, but at the end of the day, we will know that the voice of the electorate was clearly heard,” he said.

"There is reason to believe that the recount could change the vote tallies significantly,” he said.