What they're saying nationally about Minnesota's Senate recount

Not surprisingly, developments in Minnesota's Senate race recount produced lots of commentary nationally over the weekend.

From right and left, the consensus is that Al Franken will be the new U.S. senator from Minnesota and that incumbent Norm Coleman should throw in the towel.

On CNN's "Late Edition," Republican strategist Ed Rollins said as much (toward the bottom of the transcript).

Politico reports that NewYork Sen. Charles Schumer, outgoing chair of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, declared Franken the winner and said he should be seated ASAP.

Talking Points Memo weighs in. And Sen. Majority Leader Harry Reid put in his powerful two cents, too.

Glossy News does, too.

But, most surprisingly, the Minnesota-based Powerline blog seems to be resigned to Coleman's defeat.

Also, the Wall Street Journal opined this morning that the election has been, more or less, rigged. The WSJ editorial lumps the Canvassing Board into the gang of villains, although it is consists of Supreme Court and Ramsey County judges, including one of Gov. Tim Pawlenty's closest associates, Chief Justice Eric Magnuson.

By the way, the Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee chairman John Cornyn blasted Schumer for his comments.

In a release, Cornyn, of Texas, said: "While I recognize that as the Chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee during the 2008 elections, Senator Schumer is not ambivalent about the outcome of this election, his victory proclamation for Al Franken is troubling on at least a couple of levels.

"First, there is the matter of Minnesota law and double standards.  One can't help but wonder why Senator Schumer believes Al Franken should be seated without an election certificate signed by both the Secretary of State and Governor, as Minnesota law requires, when that is the very reason Democratic leaders are citing for not seating Mr. Burris from Illinois. It appears that if Senator Schumer had his way, Minnesota's election laws would be disregarded.

"Then, there is the pending Supreme Court case and likely election contest that will ultimately decide, consistent with Minnesota law, who won the election. Senator Schumer's exultations are premature to say the least.  Minnesota voters' choices must be respected and not the choices of political leaders in Washington.

"Finally, as the new Chairman of the Senate Rules and Administration Committee, which has jurisdiction over contested elections, Senator Schumer will likely play a key role in determining who ultimately assumes this Senate seat.  Pre-judging the outcome … calls into question his ability to impartially preside over this matter when it comes before the Committee, as it most certainly will."