Franken's Lead Grows in Minnesota Race +300 Votes

Democrat Al Franken yesterday increased his small lead over Republican Norm Coleman in the protracted dispute over the race for a U.S. Senate seat representing Minnesota, but it remains unclear when the five-month legal battle will end.

A state court ordered more than 300 absentee ballots that had previously been excluded to be counted yesterday, and the results increased Franken’s lead from 225 votes to 312.