This has to be a first.  In explaining why he believes Al Franken will prevail in the recount, a lawyer volunteering for Team Franken says that Franken voters are less educated and therefore more ignorant about how to fill in a bubble on a ballot.  No, I’m not kidding:

Even the observers and lawyers have been instructed by their respective campaigns to not talk to the media. But Minneapolis lawyer Bill Starr, who is volunteering for the Franken campaign, was willing to say a few words. He said he thinks Franken will prevail. His hunch is based on a theory he has.

“People who voted for Coleman are more likely to have taken the SAT in their lifetime,” he said. “They’ve filled in circles. Franken voters are probably not college-educated. They’re new voters and immigrants. They’ve been brought in by groups like ACORN, from the inner cities. They’re more likely to make mistakes. I’ve bounced this off of minority people, and they agree with me.”

The “minority people” agree with him?  Which “minority people” would that be?  And what exactly did Starr mean by immigrants?  Is he admitting that Franken and ACORN enticed non-citizens to vote?

Perhaps Starr might now understand why Franken’s team wants people to stop talking to the press.

For the record, of course, Minnesotans do not get their first exposure to optical-scan systems with the SAT.  Students use Scantron-like forms throughout their education, just as they do everywhere.  And even recently naturalized citizens and new voters can usually manage to grasp the concept of filling in a bubble.

But does Team Franken?  They challenged this ballot yesterday as unclear on voter intent:

Apparently, the challenge relies on the fact that there is both an X and a “squiggle” in the bubble.  Franken’s team must be arguing that the voter intended to cancel his/her vote for Coleman and leave the Senate race without a vote.  Would that not undermine completely the idea of “undervotes” that Franken has been pushing for the last two weeks?  Besides, if this voter wanted to “cancel” the vote, he or she would have just gotten a fresh ballot, which is an option clearly stated in the polling booths.

This is a desperation move, and Minnesotans should take a good look at the real Al Franken.