Downballot: Franken the winner, for now

COLORADO : Roll Call offers a shortlist for GOP challengers to both Gov. Bill Ritter and his new appointee to fill Ken Salazar's seat, Michael Bennet: "Popular state Attorney General John Suthers (R) is mentioned as a possible candidate for both offices, but if he declines to run for Senate, the GOP may be forced to turn to old political hands: former Rep. Bob Beauprez -- who was wiped out by Ritter in the 2006 gubernatorial election -- or former Reps. Scott McInnis (R) and Tom Tancredo (R). Former University of Denver President Marc Holtzman has also been mentioned as a possible GOP candidate, though he is more likely to try to run for governor." MINNESOTA : The Minneapolis Star Tribune writes that the state canvassing board is expected to declare Al Franken the winner of the state’s thisclose Senate contest. But that doesn’t mean the race is officially over. “The board was to meet Monday and was expected to declare which candidate received the most overall votes from nearly 3 million ... (link)