Franken Out of Limbo?

Politico’s got a scoop on a ruling by a three-judge panel in Minnesota that’s reduced the odds Norm Coleman will be able to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat in the Senate’s last undecided race. The ruling calls for 400 absentee ballots to be counted in court—far fewer than Coleman had sought, with Democrat Al Franken leading by 225 votes. Said a staffer close to Coleman: “It’s not looking good.” Both candidates’ legal teams are expected to speak with the press about the decision, and Coleman’s team has already pledged to take the case to the federal courts. Yesterday, Texas GOP Sen. John Cornyn said the legal process could last “years.”