Schumer: Minnesota Won’t Be Another Florida

Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Chairman Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) on Thursday accused Republicans of trying to intimidate Minnesota election officials into shutting down the state-mandated recount.

Schumer said Republican incumbent Norm Coleman and party officials are working to undermine the process, even though it is required by state law.

“Minnesota 2008 will not be Florida,” Schumer said, referring to the 2000 presidential election. “We’re not going to allow the hard right to intimidate the election officials in Minnesota.”

A state canvassing board was finalized this week and a recount starts next Wednesday in the race between Coleman and Democrat Al Franken. Coleman is ahead by only 206 votes — 41.99 percent to 41.98 percent — out of 2.9 million votes cast. Final results aren’t expected until December.

–J. Taylor Rushing