Minnesotans Want Norm Coleman to Concede to Al Franken

Patience continues to wear thin in Minnesota.

Nearly two-thirds of Minnesotans surveyed think Norm Coleman should concede the U.S. Senate race to Al Franken, but just as many believe the voting system that gave the state its longest running election contest needs improvement.

A new Star Tribune Minnesota Poll has found that 64 percent of those responding believe Coleman, the Republican, should accept the recount trial court's April 13 verdict that Democrat Franken won the race by 312 votes.

Only 28 percent consider last week's appeal by Coleman to the Minnesota Supreme Court "appropriate."

If the state Supreme Court rules against Coleman, 73% of Minnesotans want to see Coleman concede. Since, on Election Day, both of the major-party candidates only won about 42% of the vote, it suggests a whole lot of Coleman voters are ready to see their guy wrap this up. Indeed, 57% of Minnesota Republicans want to see Coleman quit if he loses at the state's highest court.

One Coleman voter told the Star Tribune, "Obviously, the Republican Party is trying to keep Franken's vote out of the United States Senate. We should get another [senator] in there."