Stevens' lead now under 1,000 as Alaska begins ballot tally

[Zorra]

Source: McClatchy

It's just getting started, but early results from this afternoon's ballot counting in the contest for U.S. Senate show Mark Begich gaining ground against incumbent Sen. Ted Stevens.

The elections division still has tens of thousands of ballots left to count today and even more next week, but the latest numbers show Stevens' lead is down to 971 votes.

The new numbers, reflecting nearly 28,000 newly counted absentee ballots, are from all over the state. Election night, Stevens led the Democratic Begich by about 3,000 votes.

The state today is counting a total of about 60,000 absentee and questioned ballots.

Read the full story at adn.com.





Read more: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/251/story/55789.html

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Things are not looking good for the old convicted felon republican Senator from Alaska.

[PetrusMonsFormicarum]

1. Or his trampy friend.

[yellowcanine]

5. Is that one of Caribou Barbie's consignment shop suits?

[AllieB]

2. Great news! Go Begich!

[Stuart G]

3. I can only hope that Stevens loses.

What else is there to say...a convicted felon..Who lies about everything..Oh, it was not a gift..sure

[gratuitous]

4. Sooo many things went wrong for Sen. Hulk

First, there was the actual conviction in his speedy trial. I don't think he thought there was a chance in hell of that happening. And then John McCain picked the governor of his state as a running mate. Who the fuck looks to Alaska for their running mate?! She didn't bring any strength to the ticket, the Republicans have had Alaska sewn up for decades, and it's not like Alaska is chock-full of voters. All that extra attention was very unwelcome, though. In elections past, I have no doubt that however many votes it took for Sen. Ted to win would have been counted, and all inconvenient votes from Democratic-leaning areas could be safely swept under the rug. Instead, all this attention meant that a lot of people were looking closely at the returns and the number of votes, and all that other folderol.

I think Ted's going down the tubes. If you catch my drift.

[d_b]

6. WAR BEGICH!!

[ej510]

7. If we can pull this one out and beat Coleman......we can take Chambliss out and ride our

filibuster proof majority into inauguration day.

[GOPNotForMe]

8. This is the best news I've heard all day! I need a pick-me-up! nt

[davepdx]

9. Begich is now ahead by 3 votes n/t

[acmavm]

10. My goodness gracious, this has been quite the election, hasn't it?

[tclambert]

11. And I think I found some more Alaskan ballots out by the dog house.

A sled dog must have dragged 'em over there, don'tcha know.

[underpants]

12. Do I want Stevens to lose? You BEGICHya