Could it be over? Could we have finally elected a senator from Minnesota? I doubt it. That would be too easy. Today, the state Canvassing Board certified the final results this afternoon. Al Franken has defeated incumbent Republican Norm Coleman by 225 votes. Unfortunately, because of a state law, Minnesota cannot issue a certificate of the election until all court cases are resolved. So the most I can say is that Al Franken is almost the new senator from Minnesota.

From Star-Tribune:

The state Canvassing Board certified final results this afternoon in Minnesota's marathon U.S. Senate race, but that won't end the battle between Democrat Al Franken and Republican Norm Coleman, whose Senate term ended on Saturday.

Moments after the board certified that Franken had eked out 225 more votes than Coleman, attorneys for Coleman said they would file a lawsuit within 24 hours.

Minnesota law prohibits the state from issuing a certificate of election until such a court case is resolved, which, as of today, leaves Minnesota with a single senator as Congress prepares to convene Tuesday and embark on a fast run of massive legislation to deal with the nation's financial meltdown.  (more... )