Light at the End of Franken’s Tunnel? Or Not?

These musings from Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R-Minn.) don’t seem to add much to the status of the Minnesota Senate race.

I’m prepared to sign [the certification] as soon as they give the green light. I’m not going to defy an order of the Minnesota Supreme Court. That would be a dereliction of my duty.

But what’s the “green light?” If the court rules for Democrat Al Franken but doesn’t specifically order the governor to sign a certificate? Will he? Signs point to no; he suggests that he’d abide by a stay if one was issued by a higher court. And there would be considerable pressure on Pawlenty to wait for former GOP Sen. Norm Coleman’s next move even if the state Supreme Court ordered the signing of a certificate; that action could, theoretically, be stayed. (Obviously, there is no precedent for a senator being certified and then being pulled out of the body while a higher court re-evaluates his election. If Franken is certified, he will be a senator.)

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