The Minnesota State Supreme Court has rejected the Coleman campaign's bid to have hundreds of rejected absentee ballots included in the Senate recount, the Minneapolis Star reports. The decision clears the way for Al Franken to be certified the winner by the state canvassing board.

The Coleman campaign issued the following statement from attorney Fritz Knaak on the court decision:

“Given our campaign's unwavering commitment to ensuring that the vote of no Minnesotan is disenfranchised, today's ruling by the Minnesota Supreme Court is both disappointing and disheartening.  The fact that the Franken campaign now rejects the notion of every valid vote being counted so they can attempt to declare victory on the basis of a broken process, and an artificial lead built on double counting of votes should concern all Minnesotans.  Today's ruling, which effectively disregards the votes of hundreds of Minnesotans, ensures that an election contest is now inevitable.  The Coleman campaign has consistently and continually fought to have every validly cast vote counted, and for the integrity of Minnesota's election system, we will not stop now.  The Minnesota Supreme Court has made sure that an election contest will need to be filed quickly in order to ensure that an accurate and valid recount can be achieved.”

PPP is out with a new poll showing that 44% of people now have a less favorable opinion of Caroline Kennedy than they did before she first offered herself up for consideration for the vacated Senate seat in New York. Thirty-three percent say their opinion of Kennedy hasn't changed, and 23% say they now have a more favorable impression of her.

Overall, 44% hold a favorable opinion of Kennedy while 40% hold an unfavorable opinion of her.

Fifty-seven percent of New Yorkers say they would prefer to see Andrew Cuomo get the appointment, while only 27% now would like to see Kennedy replace Clinton.

President-elect Obama announced four new nominees for posts in the Department of Justice: David Ogden, for Deputy Attorney General; Elena Kagan, for Solicitor General; Tom Perrelli, for Associate Attorney General; and Dawn Johnsen, for Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Legal Counsel.

"These individuals bring the integrity, depth of experience and tenacity that the Department of Justice demands in these uncertain times," Obama said in a released statement. "I have the fullest confidence that they will ensure that the Department of Justice once again fulfills its highest purpose: to uphold the Constitution and protect the American people. I look forward to working with them in the months and years ahead."

Read their bios, provided by the Transition team, after the jump. (more...)

President Bush's approval ratings over the last eight years have been characterized by "extreme highs and lows," according to Gallup. "His record 90% approval rating early in his presidency following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks stands in stark contrast to his sub-30% approval ratings during most of his final year in office, which rank among the lowest ratings ever measured," Gallup's Jeffrey M. Jones writes.

When averaging Bush's ratings, he ranks seventh out of 11 post-World War II presidents for highest approval rating -- just below Reagan and above Nixon. Bill Clinton ranks fourth, just below Bush's father.

President-elect Obama and Vice President-elect Biden will meet with congressional leaders on Capitol Hill Monday, reportedly to discuss an economic recovery package. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid was asked this morning on "Meet the Press" about the forthcoming stimulus bill, rumored to cost some $1 trillion, and he said it would cost as much as need be to get the economy back on track.

Those expected to attend the meeting include: from the Senate, Reid, Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin, and Minority Whip Jon Kyl; and from the House, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, Minority Leader John Boehner, Majority Whip Jim Clyburn and Minority Whip Eric Cantor.

Obama will meet with economic advisers and Cabinet members at his Transition offices in downtown Washington later in the day.

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson withdrew his name today as nominee for Commerce Secretary, citing a "pending investigation of a company that has done business with New Mexico state government." President-elect Obama has accepted Richardson's decision "with deep regret."

The AP reports that "a federal grand jury is investigating how a California company that contributed to Richardson's political activities won a New Mexico state contract worth more than $1 billion."

Obama and Richardson both released statements to the press today acknowledging the news.

Obama:

It is with deep regret that I accept Governor Bill Richardson's decision to withdraw his name for nomination as the next Secretary of Commerce.Governor Richardson is an outstanding public servant and would have brought to the job of Commerce Secretary and our economic team great insights accumulated through an extraordinary career in federal and state office. It is a measure of his willingness to put the nation first that he has removed himself as a candidate for the Cabinet in order to avoid any delay in filling this important economic post at this critical time. Although we must move quickly to fill the void left by Governor Richardson's decision, I look forward to his future service to our country and in my administration.

Richardson:

For nearly three decades, I have been honored to serve my state and our nation in Congress, at the U.N., as Secretary of Energy and as governor. So when the President-elect asked me to serve as Secretary of Commerce, I felt a duty to answer the call.I felt that duty particularly because America is facing such extraordinary economic challenges. The Department of Commerce must play an important role in solving them by helping to grow the new jobs and businesses America so badly needs.

It is also because of that sense of urgency about the work of the Commerce Department that I have asked the President-elect not to move forward with my nomination at this time.I do so with great sorrow. But a pending investigation of a company that has done business with New Mexico state government promises to extend for several weeks or, perhaps, even months.

Let me say unequivocally that I and my Administration have acted properly in all matters and that this investigation will bear out that fact. But I have concluded that the ongoing investigation also would have forced an untenable delay in the confirmation process.Given the gravity of the economic situation the nation is facing, I could not in good conscience ask the President-elect and his Administration to delay for one day the important work that needs to be done.

So, for now, I will remain in the job I love, Governor of New Mexico, and will continue to work every day, with Lieutenant Governor Diane Denish, to make a positive difference in the lives of New Mexicans. I believe she will be a terrific governor in the future.I appreciate the confidence President-elect Obama has shown in me, and value our friendship and working partnership. I told him that I am eager to serve in the future in any way he deems useful. And like all Americans, I pray for his success and the success of our beloved country.

President-elect Obama will be on Capitol Hill Monday in an effort to work with Congress to improve the economy. Included in his meetings will be Senate and House GOP leaders Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and John Boehner (R-Ohio).

In separate statements released this afternoon, McConnell and Boehner voiced their concerns with passing what could be the largest spending bill in the the country's history without extended committee and floor debate.

"We agree with President-elect Obama that taking action to turn the economy around is job one. We also agree, though, that every dollar needs to be spent wisely and not wasted in the rush to get it spent," McConnell said. "And we hope that Democrats in Congress don't attempt to shut the American taxpayer out of this process by trying to pass a bill that hasn't been the subject of bipartisan review and that hasn't been available for public inspection."

"Let's be clear," said Boehner, "it is essential that this legislation be debated in a fair, open, and honest way. Congress should have public hearings in the appropriate committees, the text of the measure should be made available online for the American people to review for at least one week, and it should be free from special-interest earmarks."

Gov. Bill Ritter (D) is expected to announce tomorrow that Denver Schools Superintendent Michael Bennet is his choice to fill the state's soon-to-be vacant Senate seat. Ritter will officially appoint Bennet after Sen. Ken Salazar gives up the seat and is sworn in as Interior Secretary. The Denver Post reports:

After an array of candidates put their names forward for selection, the choice came down to Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper or Bennet, Hickenlooper's former chief of staff. After spending a long holiday weekend in the mountains last week, Ritter began to focus on Bennet. The two men then discussed the choice on New Year's Day and the pick was solidified, according to sources close to the process.

The New York Times notes that Bennet is the brother of James Bennet, current editor of The Atlantic magazine.

Former Virginia Delegate Brian Moran, running for the Democratic nomination in this year's race for governor of Virginia, called on his two opponents to join his pledge to raise money from only in-state donors.

"This election should be about who has a proven record of fighting for Virginia families and a vision for where to take the state," Moran said on a Washington-area radio station this morning. "It should not be an election about who can raise more money from national donors. Virginia Democrats should choose our nominee."

Moran's pledge comes for obvious reasons. Former Democratic National Committee chairman Terry McAuliffe, who's raised money for both Bill and Hillary Clinton, has a national donor network that the Washington Post reported could help him take in some $80 million to run for governor.

The McAuliffe camp has denied the accuracy of this number, telling Virginia Commonwealth University professor Robert Holsworth that they expect to raise far less than that. Still, Moran and State Sen. Creigh Deeds, who's also running, will likely struggle to keep pace with McAuliffe's stellar fundraising abilities should he not agree to the pledge.

Despite reports of unrest among liberal Democrats regarding certain moves made by President-elect Obama, Gallup's tracking poll finds liberals still overwhelmingly support him. Among liberal Democrats, 93% are confident Obama will be a good president, and 96% have a favorable opinion of him.

Obama currently enjoys decent numbers among Republicans as well. About half (51%) of liberal/moderate Republicans and almost a third (29%) of conservative Republicans are confident Obama will be a good president. Obama's favorable ratings among both groups are even better, with 61% of liberal/moderate Republicans and 37% of conservative Republicans holding a favorable opinion of him.