...but Franken's victory is disputed

The former Saturday Night Live regular was declared winner of the Minnesota race on Monday, after a lengthy recount.

But his Republican opponent Norm Coleman immediately pledged to launch a legal challenge that could delay the final outcome for months longer.

After the initial count in November, coinciding with the Presidential elections, Coleman was given a majority of just 215, out of 2.9 million votes cast.

After the recount, the state canvassing board gave Franken a 225-vote lead for the Democrats.

‘After 62 days, after the careful and painstaking inspection of nearly 3 million ballots, After Hours and hours of hard work by elections officials and volunteers across the state, I am proud and humbled to stand before you as the next senator from Minnesota,’ Franken said yesterday.

However Coleman, who is the state’s current senator, said he had ‘serious problems’ with the recount, including alleged double-counting of some papers and the inclusion of 654 disputed absentee ballots.

After leaving Saturday Night Live – during which time he admitted to using cocaine - Franken hosted a talk show on the liberal Air America radio network. He has also written several books including Lies And The Lying Liars Who Tell Them: A Fair And Balanced Look At The Right.

Published: 6 Jan 2009