As voting totals shift, Pawlenty expresses recount concerns
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Gov. Tim Pawlenty says he has concerns about the changing vote total in Minnesota's U.S. Senate race.
The latest tally this morning shows incumbent Republican Norm Coleman's unofficial lead over Democrat Al Franken has shrunk to 206 votes. The contest is headed to an automatic recount.
During a news conference to outline a jobs proposal, Pawlenty said some strange things have been happening with ballots since the election.
"It's really important to the integrity of the process and people accepting the results that the process be fair, and that it be transparent and it be secure and it be accurate. And some of the stories that are being circulated are quite concerning," said Pawlenty.
Pawlenty noted that 32 absentee ballots were reportedly found in a Minneapolis poll worker's car late Friday. The governor says he has no legal basis to get involved in the recount, but he urged county election officials to lock down their results to prevent further changes in the vote totals.
A statewide recount won't begin until after the state Canvassing Board meets next week.
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