Norm Coleman, Al Franken meet insanity in a photo finish

May 15, 11:13 AMSouth St. Paul ExaminerRob Shirk

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The winner in a photo finish is  ...

There is an oft quoted definition of insanity and It goes something like this: "You may be insane if you keep doing the same thing over and over expecting a different result."

First there was the official election vote total, the recount total, then the ensuing district court lawsuit brought against Landslide Al and they all have Landslide Franken as the winner. It was ridiculously close but there is a winner.

Let's go to the racetrack, OK? If my horse is involved in a photo finish it means the racing officials look at a photo taken at the finish line and after review the horse might win or lose by a nose or less. It could change the unofficial results (and it happens now and again) when the official results are posted. It is very similar to elections everywhere in the U.S.

The results would be the same even if an owner wanted to look at it again. We would be asking the racing stewards to look at it again and again and again hoping for a different result. It has never happened. They might even call you crazy. There is a winner, a loser, or a dead heat (tie). There is no dead heat, here. There is no do-over, either.

There is not a provision for a run-off election in Minnesota. End of story. If there was a provision it would mean Landslide Al had been asked by Landslide Norm to withdraw because Landslide Al was behind in the unofficial results on Election Day and a few months later Landslide Norm might want to have a run-off election because Lanslide Al is ahead.

Math can be confusing, particularly if you want to have coffee and a few doughnuts while you figure it out, no?

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