The longer the recount goes on, the closer the margin in the race for U.S. Senator from Minnesota.

Republican Senator Norm Coleman's edge over Democrat Al Franken faded some more in the second day of a statewide recount.

According to results reported to the secretary of state yesterday, compared with pre-recount figures, Franken now trails Coleman by 129 votes. Coleman had a 215-vote advantage heading into the automatic recount.

Still, almost 60 percent of the ballots remain outstanding as the painstaking recount of 2.9 million ballots continues. Thirty-five of Minnesota's 87 counties told the state they had finished their counts.

As of Thursday, both candidates had lost votes in numerous counties because of challenged ballots. If that continues, it will likely mean a cliffhanger when the state canvassing board meets starting Dec. 16 to rule on challenged ballots.