How to steal a Minnesota Senate seat Part 3

The Minnesota Senate race between Republican Norm Coleman (upper photo) and Democrat Al Franken (lower photo) may end up in the courts - or on the floor of the U.S. Senate.

We have reported on this Senate race here and here.

The Democrats are intent on putting Al Franken in the U.S. Senate one way or another.

Minnesota's U.S. Senate showdown is veering down a path toward the courts and possibly the Senate itself after a panel's ruling on rejected absentee ballots dealt a blow to Democrat Al Franken's chances.

The state Canvassing Board denied Franken's request to factor absentee ballots rejected by poll workers into the recount.

Franken entered the recount trailing Coleman by 215 votes out of 2.9 million ballots. As of Wednesday night, Coleman was up 292 votes, including results from Nov. 4 and recounted ones.

Senate majority leader Harry Reid is showing a direct interest in the Coleman - Franken contest in Minnesota, leading one to wonder if the Democrats will find a way to give Franken the Senate seat over Coleman who is ahead in the ballot count.

The Senate has in rare cases inserted itself into elections, including a 1996 Louisiana race and a 1974 New Hampshire contest. The body has the power to determine its members' qualifications.

The U.S. Senate has the power to go against a ballot count in a very close election and decide the final outcome on the Senate floor.

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