13 seems to be a common number

13 votes was the margin of victory for Ophelia Ford in the local "dead voter" state Senate race. Now a private investigator claims to have found 13 illegal votes in that very same contest. This is in addition to the previously proven fraudulent votes. One of the votes was evidently cast by Ford’s nephew. It's a small, small world after all.

The State Senate wants to proceed with a motion to vacate after a short dog and pony show hearing about the contested votes (as per Judge Donald’s ruling), but I think Ford attorney David Cocke’s opinion will win the day:

Ford lawyer David Cocke, however, said he doesn't think Donald's ruling would allow such a hearing without first developing uniform standards for disqualifying votes to apply to all of Tennessee's 95 counties. “You can't just retroactively and selectively enforce residency requirements,'' Cocke said.

It does sound reasonable, but of course it would lock up the proceedings indefinitely as everyone waited for the house and senate to grind out legislation. Since it’s doubtful such legislation could be passed quickly, we’ll have to see if the Senate takes this option or tests Judge Donald’s ruling by doing their own thing.

MORE 2/9/06

Terry Roland speaks.