This newspaper endorsed Republican Norm Coleman for senator, but now it is time for him to step out of the race and let Minnesota have two senators again.

Coleman could learn a lesson from Washington state politician Dino Rossi.

There was a tight race for governor in Washington state in 2004. Republican Dino Rossi, a state senator, went head to head against Democrat Christine Gregoire, the attorney general. The incumbent governor did not seek re-election.

At the end of tallying, Rossi led by 261 votes. By law, there was a recount. Rossi led by merely 42 votes. Gregoire took the lead of 129 votes after a third recount was done by hand. Justices threw out four votes, and the number changed to 133 votes.

Like with Coleman, there was a lawsuit that followed. It was over disputed ballots. The judge ruled against Rossi.

But unlike Coleman, Rossi did not appeal the ruling. Gregoire became governor.

Rossi knew when fighting became a waste of his time, the time of his supporters and the time of the citizens in his state.

There are too many important issues in Minnesota to let the state be without Senate representation. Whatever the means, Franken holds the lead in the race by 225 votes, and the courts have agreed with that result.

Coleman is now only delaying the seating of Franken and in doing so is not servicing his staff, his financial contributors or the people of Minnesota.

For a time many Minnesotans followed the case closely, but now, after five months, they mainly see stalling. As for the rest of the country, at first, Americans thought Minnesota looked like a diligent place for vote recounts. Now, it’s starting to seem like an election laughingstock.

And Coleman, who rails against career politicians, is looking like a career politician who is losing his career.

A good politician knows when he is looking bad and making his state look bad.

Throw in the towel.