And then there were 58.
No, Alaska is still NOT done counting the ballots. The good news is, however, Begich has won.
Begich leads Stevens by more than 3,700 votes, according to the Alaska secretary of state. Gail Fenumiai, the head of the state’s election division, said about 2,500 absentee votes from overseas and Alaska’s most remote regions remain to be counted.
The Democrat’s lead thus far — 47.8 percent to 46.6 percent — puts him beyond the margin of victory that would allow Stevens to call for a state-funded recount of the ballots.
I know Alaska is a big state and there are registered voters living in very remote areas where absentee ballots need to be flown in by plane. We’re now two weeks past Election Day, however. I’ll give them 4-5 days for bad weather, but 14 days? Come on. Multnomah County here in Portland, OR counted 366,498 in just two days…over 40,000 more than were cast in the entire state of Alaska.
So, unless Stevens pulls within 0.5% once the final 2,500 ballots are counted (by Christmas?), which would trigger an automatic recount, his 40 year career in the U.S. Senate is over. I know at least one blogger and two friends in Alaska who couldn’t be happier.
That leaves only Minnesota and Georgia left undecided.
In Minnesota, Republican Norm Coleman finished 206 votes ahead of Democratic challenger, Al Franken. A recount of the 2.9 million ballots cast began yesterday and should be completed by next week.
In Georgia, racist Republican incumbent, Saxby Chambliss, was up by 110,000 votes over Democrat Jim Martin. Chambliss’ numbers, however, did not reach more than 50% as required by state law, so there will be a “do over”…err, runoff…election held on December 2nd.
John Stewart covered the three remaining Senate races most excellently on The Daily Show yesterday:
Note to John: Dude, it’s pronounced “Wampa“, not “Wampass”. Um, now I’ve probably said too much.
By the way, by stating in the title of this post that the Democrats now have 58 seats, I’m including the two Independents who caucus with the Dems: Bernie Sanders of Vermont and piece of shit, back-stabbing, traitor-of-convenience, whining, sniveling, ass-faced Joe Lieberman of Connecticut.
–Gordy
