On number 1, yes, he is going to have to go to the USSC because the Minnesota court is going to refuse his plea. However, the USSC is not going to seat the loser of the fair election. We hope.

As to your second point, yes, that could work in some contexts, but not in Minnesota. Failure to be gracious and back out at this point, now that the process is done, will end his career in this state.

1) Isn’t he hinging his hopes on overturns in higher, possibly the US Supreme, courts?

2) Wouldn’t he improve his political position by being seen fighting and possibly pulling the martyr act that he was screwed out of office in the courts rather than meekly giving up? I don’t understand the assertion that he can run for office again if he concedes but is doomed for life if he fights. Anyone who would have voted for the dolt in the first place can only be encouraged by his willingness to fight. No? If it was Franken I would want him to keep trying, despite the odds.

But if the ballots in question are preferentially from precincts that favored Coleman to begin with (as Greg implies), the actual probability could be significantly higher, IF these ballots are counted.

Here is the problem for Coleman: From here on out he has to overcome a presumption that the election was correctly decided in Franken’s favor. That presumption includes not counting the absentee ballots in question. Coleman would have the burden of proof to demonstrate that the ballots were improperly excluded.

Meaning Coleman can drop discreetly out of the matter, while some deep-pocketed front for the right wing — with a bland name like “Citizens for Minnesota” — backs some other individual Republican to take up the fight.

The GOP knows how to leave no fingerprints. Remember the Swift Boaters, “totally unrelated” to W’s re-election campaign?

As for Mr. Coleman, I have one question. Why do you hate democracy?