Minn. recount continues

A quick finish to Minnesota’s U.S. Senate race seemed unlikely Thursday when the city of Minneapolis received an open-ended extension to locate ballots counted on election day that have vanished.

About 130 ballots were not included in a recount that was due to end today. To help shorten the review for 2.9 million votes, Republican Sen. Norm Coleman withdrew 650 ballot challenges Thursday, matching an earlier gesture by Democrat Al Franken.

The campaigns have challenged more than 6,500 ballots.

By Thursday, Coleman led by 205 votes when precinct figures from Nov. 4 and the recount were compared.