Nearly 2.9 million Minnesotans went to the polls Tuesday. In one of the most hotly contested races, one that drew nationwide attention, Sen. Norm Coleman and challenger Al Franken finished in a virtual dead heat. Coleman leads the vote by less than 500 votes, a margin of less than one-hundredth of a percent and that triggers an automatic recount, according to state law.

On Wednesday, Coleman claimed the victory and said the recount wouldn't be necessary if Franken would just accept defeat and concede.

After the bareknuckles brawl those two had the last few months, that's not likely to happen.

The recount is the right way to settle this. It may be December before the recount is complete and we know who the winner will be, but that's OK. Let the voters decide who wins, not the spinmeisters.