By Mike Kaszuba

Surrounded by TV cameras that aimed at his hands, sargeant-at-arms Dave Thul counted ballots for Steele County on the first ballot for governor Friday at the state Republican convention.

"One-two-three-four-five -- five for [Republican gubernatorial candidate Marty] Siefert," he said.

He then counted 10 ballots for Tom Emmer, Seifert's main rival for the gubernatorial endorsement.

But then Thul pulled one additional ballot out of the envelope, which had been left inside by mistake. "We have an additional ballot for Seifert," he added.

The final tally: Emmer 10, Seifert 6.