We've been raising questions about the hometown Minneapolis Star Tribune's coverage of the Franken/Coleman race, and today we have another.

The two are locked in what could be, statistically based on the total number of votes cast, the closest U.S. senate race in history. A recount is underway. And it's a recount required by state law, because the vote was so close. In fact, Coleman's original margin of victory, 725 votes (out of 2.9 million cast), has already shrunk to 236 votes.

So why this Strib headline today [emphasis added]? “Sen. Norm Coleman's Democratic challenger is vowing to push ahead with a recount”.

Why the “vowing” language, which makes it seem like Franken's just being a sore loser? Under Minnesota law, recounts are required if the final margin of victory is less than one-half of 1 percent. In the case of Franken/Coleman, the margin's .01 percent. So of course there's going to be a recount.

Also under state law, the person trailing can request that the recount not go forward. But considering there's already been a 500 vote shift in the process, naturally Franken's not going to do that.

Seems to us that once again, the Strib has its thumb on the scale while covering this race.