Dec. 30 (Bloomberg) -- Minnesota Republican U.S. Senator Norm Coleman’s campaign disputed claims that Democratic challenger Al Franken has staked out a 50-vote lead after a still uncompleted recount of more than 2.9 million votes cast.

“We are dealing with an artificial lead and we have to keep pointing that out,” Tony Trimble, a lawyer for Coleman’s campaign, said on a conference call today.

Minnesota Secretary of State Mark Ritchie said today’s recount awarded Franken four additional votes. Based on independent tallies by newspapers in the state, that would give Franken a 50-vote advantage.

Ritchie refused to comment on the newspaper tallies, saying he wouldn’t do so as long as the state is reviewing the Nov. 4 election results.

Election officials have now completed their review of thousands of challenged ballots and will turn to about 1,350 absentee ballots that Minnesota’s Supreme Court ruled were wrongly rejected in the nation’s closest 2008 Senate race.

After those ballots are added to the totals, election officials will certify a winner, possibly as early as next week. Either side may challenge the result in court, potentially delaying a final outcome for several more weeks.

‘On Track’

Franken expressed confidence about the recount’s outcome. “It appears that we’re on track to win,” he said in an e-mailed statement.

Republican National Committee Chairman Robert “Mike” Duncan, in a statement later in the day, said Franken’s “declarations of victory are as inaccurate as they are premature.”

“We won’t know a winner for weeks to come” Duncan said. “When a winner finally does emerge, we are confident it will be Norm Coleman.”

After the Nov. 4 election, Coleman held a lead of a few hundred votes out of more than 2.9 million cast, forcing a recount under Minnesota law. Franken has gained as the recount has proceeded and took a slight lead last week, according to an analysis by the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

Coleman, 59, is seeking a second term. Franken, 57, appeared on NBC’s “Saturday Night Live” and hosted a national radio program before returning to his home state to challenge Coleman.

A victory by Franken and the appointment of a Democrat to fill the Illinois seat left vacant by President-elect Barack Obama would give Democrats control of 59 Senate seats, one short of the 60 needed to prevent Republicans from using procedural tactics to block legislation.

Democrats now have 57 votes, including those of two independents who support the Democratic majority. Republicans control 41 seats. The status of Obama’s seat remains uncertain because Illinois Democratic governor, Rod Blagojevich, has been charged with corruption in connection with making the appointment.

Blagojevich today named former state Attorney General Roland Burris to fill Obama’s vacant seat. Senate Democratic leaders vowed to reject the appointment.

To contact the reporter on this story: Christopher Stern in Washington at joconnell3@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: December 30, 2008 19:51 EST