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The third day of the recount starts today and it's becoming clear that Republican Tom Emmer's strategy is to challenge ballots cast for Dayton that few think the State Canvassing Board will agree with. In Ramsey and Hennepin Counties, most of the challenged ballots that have been viewed by reporters are clear votes for Dayton and are unlikely to be sustained by the Canvassing Board.
In Hennepin County alone, the Emmer team has challenged 68 times as many ballots as the Dayton team. 894 of those challenges were deemed frivolous.
The key question to Emmer and the Republican Party is whether there's a path to victory or is it more about delaying the inevitable? GOP Chair Tony Sutton tells the AP that they may file an Election Contest, which would further delay the outcome of the race.
Another issue is how the State Canvassing Board handles the number of frivolous challenges being made by Emmer's team. A Friday meeting is tentatively scheduled to discuss the issue. Emmer's attorney sent a letter to the State Canvassing Board asking them to require local elections officials to make copies of every ballot. You can read the letter here.
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The latest SOS results show Dayton lost 37 votes from the Election Night totals. It also shows Emmer has quadrupled the number of challenges statewide.
Meanwhile, the recount in Ramsey is moving along at a "regular pace."
Dayton is in Washington D.C. today to attend the Democratic Governors Association's Winter Meetings.
Forum Communications says Dayton and Emmer are taking different routes.
Under the Dome
The Vikings are preparing a stadium plan.
Republicans in the Minnesota House hire new staff. Many of them are members of the Pawlenty Administration.
Congress
The Senate passed a bill to boost food safety rules.
President Obama hopes to craft a deal with the GOP over extending the Bush tax cuts.
A Pentagon study backs the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell.
A bill to ban earmarks falls short in the Senate.
DFL Sen. Al Franken calls on the FCC and Justice to block the proposed Comcast/NBC merger.
GOP Rep. Michele Bachmann rips a $1.2 billion settlement to black farmers.
Pawlenty has two public events today and will be expected to answer questions on the pardon.
GOP Rep.-elect Chip Cravaack calls for spending cuts to rein in the federal deficit. He held a news conference in Duluth.
Pawlenty for Prez Watch
AP picks up on Pawlenty's pardon of a sex offender who allegedly committed another sex crime.
Pawlenty was in Atlanta on Tuesday.
