Coleman camp withdraws 475 ballots

From NBC's Domenico Montanaro Republican Norm Coleman's campaign is withdrawing 475 challenged ballots, campaign attorney Fritz Knaack said in a conference call with reporters. The move comes after Democrat Al Franken's campaign announced it would withdraw 425 challenged ballots . "We've gotten a positive gesture from the Franken campaign," Knaack said, "and we want to respond in kind." There are still about 4,000 remaining challenged ballots, Knaack said. He added that he and Franken attorney Mark Elias are working out a time to meet later this week -- though, in a conference call minutes after the Coleman call ended, Elias questioned what exactly could be accomplished by a meeting. Knaack said he has gone through all 6,800 challenged ballots -- by both campaigns -- but added that there is "no point in arguing over ballots that we know have no chance of counting." It's to "both of our benefit" to do get rid of those ballots," he said, particularly if there is a "judicial ... (link)