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Mar 25, 2009 7:10 pm US/Central
Sen. Race Now Minnesota's Tardiest Election Result
ST. PAUL (AP) ―
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Norm Coleman, Al Franken (File)
Chip Somodevilla & Robin Beck / AFP/Getty Images
Minnesota's Senate race is about to pass another milestone -- for tardiness.
After Wednesday, no statewide office in Minnesota will have been up in the air for so long after a fall election.
Until the 2008 Senate race, the 1962 governor's race held that title. But the new Minnesota governor from that election was sworn in on March 25, 1963 after a drawn-out legal battle. The governor's office was never empty though. The incumbent stayed put until the winner took his oath.
For now, Minnesota is down a senator while Democrat Al Franken and Republican Norm Coleman duel in court over their ultra-close election. A court could rule soon on whether Franken's post-recount lead is valid, but appeals are possible.
Gov. Tim Pawlenty said Wednesday that his hands are tied because state law won't allow him to appoint a temporary senator and the court case is holding up an election certificate.
"The delay is frustrating but it's important that the process run its course and that we have a comprehensive, fair and just result," Pawlenty told reporters. "It's going to take a little more time to get that."
Asked whether he'd sign a certificate once the case has traveled through state courts, Pawlenty gave an indirect answer.
"We're going to follow the law and the courts' orders in this regard. We're not going to jump ahead of the court process," he said. "I'll sign the election certificate when and if the law requires me to do so."
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Norm Coleman was born in New York City in 1949. Al Franken was born in New York City in 1951.
(© 2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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