Democrat Al Franken is poised to hold on to a 48-vote lead over Republican Senator Norm Coleman as the state Canvassing Board awards a final pile of votes in Minnesota's unsettled U.S. Senate race.
 
The state Canvassing Board is scheduled to meet Tuesday and award votes from a remaining group of about 5,000 challenges that had been withdrawn by both campaigns. Based on a draft report released late Monday by the Secretary of State's office, once those votes are awarded Franken will have earned 48 more votes than Coleman.  That's out of almost 3 million votes cast in November.

Several outstanding issues could still affect the final vote count. The two campaigns and the Secretary of State's office still have to agree how to handle an estimated 1,600 improperly rejected absentee ballots. In addition, the state Supreme Court on Tuesday will hear arguments over a Coleman claim that some precincts counted certain ballots twice.