The man in charge of the recount in Minnesota’s U.S. Senate election predicts that come Inauguration Day, the dust will be settled enough for either incumbent Republican Norm Coleman or Democrat Al Franken to take the oath of office. Minnesota Secretary of State Mark Ritchie’s comment came at the end of an hourlong appearance on Minnesota Public Radio’s “Midday” program in which he said several times that he couldn’t predict the actions of partisan attorneys or judges who might try to short-circuit the state recount.

MPR’s Gary Eichten: “Will we have a U.S. Senator seated in Washington on Jan. 20?”

Ritchie: “At least one.”

MPR: “What about two?”

Ritchie: ”Gary, I’m gonna go out on a limb and say, ‘Yes.’”

Current vote count tracked here. Note: The Senate’s swearing-in is set for Jan. 6, not Jan. 20.