What’s going on here is that this will be a bad cycle for incumbent governors, with tough budget choices to make, and so he gives that a miss by doing this, and can focus on a run for President.

Additionally, it minimizes the political damage of his refusal to certify Al Franken’s election as Senator, which he will do in order to shore up his support with the base.

He has made a statement, but note the weasel here, “If the court directs me to sign that certificate, I will.”

The translation here is that if the court does not explicitly order him, he won’t sign until Coleman goes all the way up the chain to the Supreme Court, but if it does, he has no choice.