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DRUDGE REPORT: “DRAMA: FRANKEN WORKER INFILTRATES PROCESS; COUNTS BALLOTS AS ‘NONPARTISAN’ VOLUNTEER”
By Michael B. Brodkorb | November 24, 2008
Below are excerpts from the article highlighted on the Drudge Report.
“BRECKENRIDGE, Minn. — A woman who worked for Al Franken earlier this week during the Senate recount in one county ended up counting ballots as a nonpartisan volunteer here Saturday in a recount that grew heated at times.
Maggie Vertin, who spent two days in Fergus Falls for Otter Tail County’s recount as an observer for Franken, was one of eight volunteers who assisted with the Wilkin County effort in Breckenridge.
Bob Westfall, who was in Breckenridge on Saturday as an observer for Norm Coleman, said he had concerns when members of his team learned a ballot counter had worked for Franken.” Source: Forum Communications, November 23, 2008
Click here for the complete story.
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“Coleman spokesman Mark Drake said Franken’s campaign should explain what happened.
‘The situation raises very serious questions and very serious red flags,’ Drake said. ‘I think Minnesotans demand that there’s a firewall between these campaigns and what neutral observers are doing.’
Franken representatives in Wilkin County said they were not allowed to comment on the recount.
A Franken spokeswoman did not return a call seeking comment.” Source: Forum Communications, November 23, 2008Click here for the complete story.
Topics: Uncategorized | 7 Comments »
7 Responses to “DRUDGE REPORT: “DRAMA: FRANKEN WORKER INFILTRATES PROCESS; COUNTS BALLOTS AS ‘NONPARTISAN’ VOLUNTEER””
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November 24th, 2008 at 2:52 pm
I don’t understand what a “non partisan volunteer” is in this process. In Minneapolis we have 2 election judges counting ballots and 2 volunteers from each campaign. The judges work for the city elections director. They may all be active DFLers and proud union members for all we know. That being said, with at least 6 pairs of eyes on every ballot for our recount, I doubt anybody could do anything obvious and get away with it without somebody noticing. And from what I’ve seen, if the judges have an interest, it seems to be getting through the recount expeditiously and having the totals come out more or less even with the election night ones, without unexplained discrepancies, mistakes or missing ballots. (Which would make them look bad.) Maybe the deal is different at other sites.
November 24th, 2008 at 3:36 pm
Watch the Franken minions explain this away as somehow honest or Coleman’s fault.
The shear dishonesty of the Franken camp is shocking.
November 24th, 2008 at 3:40 pm
I wonder if Barkley, Aldrich and Niemackl could get together to sue on behalf of “Other” since Team Franken has started challenging his ballots. At least Barkley (and the IP) has an interest in seeing his percentage stay where it is.
November 24th, 2008 at 4:04 pm
I think the GOP has to be vigilent and when questionable activities occur, they sound the alarm. This is good and helps protect the legitimacy of all votes.
November 24th, 2008 at 5:09 pm
Aren’t ALL election judges partisan? Everywhere I have ever voted, they had to have even numbers of republicans and democrats serving as election judges. I had a friend who was turned away from serving, because in her precinct, they needed more republicans, and since she wasn’t, they couldn’t hire her.
Score one for Michael feeding incorrect information to another lazy blogger.
November 24th, 2008 at 5:44 pm
My advice to any recount volunteer for either side is to look at each ballot like you are the only one interested in making sure your guy gets the votes he’s entitled to and the other guy gets none that he isn’t. Even if you are doubled up, your partner could get distracted, confused or just plain miss something. I know I have missed at least one thing that my partner caught and vice versa in 4 days of counting. The judges have made mistakes that people in both camps have caught. And I don’t think it was due to bad intentions but to fatigue.
November 24th, 2008 at 9:45 pm
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