Thursday’s statement by Norm Coleman attorney Joe Friedberg has generated plenty of interest at local blogs and national news sites alike, mainly for his opinion that it’s “probably correct” that Al Franken will come out on top when the three-judge panel hearing Coleman’s Senate election contest rules. USA Today responded by asking, ““When can we call him ‘Sen. Franken?’” And while local media have run matter-of-fact heads for the story — like MinnPost: “Norm’s lawyer: We’ll lose” — one outlet launched its story with a bold proclamation, only to replace it with a blander version within the hour.

Minnesota Public Radio’s headline, “Coleman attorney concedes defeat in recount trial” (seen above on Google News), was quickly replaced this morning with the decidedly less dramatic “Coleman attorney eyes appeal.”

Having gotten to the news a bit late (MN Publius seems to be the first local outlet to link to Hotline On Call’s transcript of the KFAN interview with Friedberg), perhaps MPR was working on a better second-day angle? Or did the campaign contact the station? I asked reporter Elizabeth Stawicki, who only said that “online” writes the headlines. She did not respond to my request for a contact in MPR’s online news division.

Update: Dave Orrick of the Pioneer Press reports that Friedberg made a “clarification” of his statement early Friday afternoon:

He didn’t deny any of what he said on the radio, but emphasized he believes Coleman’s legal strategy has merit.

“I believe that our position of enfranchising thousands of Minnesotans who had not had their ballots counted was, and remains, the proper way to proceed,” Friedberg’s statement reads, in part. It continues, “I feel confident that if the court proceeds with wisdom and with decisions based on the facts, and on the law, that we will succeed in our case.”