LAST LAUGH:

Life after recount battle for Norm Coleman: Former senator may begin comeback (Donald Lambro, 11/24/09, Washington Times)

Former Sen. Norm Coleman, Minnesota Republican, who narrowly lost his bid for a second term in a bitter eight-month recount battle with Democrat Al Franken, may be poised for an improbable comeback after a new survey showed that half of all Republicans polled would support him if he enters the gubernatorial race next year.

Mr. Coleman has largely stayed out of the limelight since the state's Supreme Court unanimously ruled in June that Mr. Franken, a one-time "Saturday Night Live" comedian, had defeated him by a razor-thin 312 votes out of 2.9 million cast in the 2008 election.

State Republican officials said he has been going through a period of "decompression" since he conceded. However, they also say the former lawmaker remains popular with Republicans and with voters generally and is in a strong position if he moves quickly in the race. He has said he won't make his decision until next year.