Vote tally trend favors Begich for Senate

[kpete]

Source: Anchorage Daily News

Vote tally trend favors Begich for Senate

SENATE RACE: With Stevens strongholds still uncounted, leader isn't celebrating yet.

By SEAN COCKERHAM

Published: November 14th, 2008 03:58 AM
Last Modified: November 14th, 2008 09:42 AM

More than half the absentee and questioned ballots still to be counted in Alaska's U.S. Senate race come from areas of the state that backed Democrat Mark Begich on

That's not a good sign for Republican Sen. Ted Stevens as he seeks to overcome Begich's 814-vote lead when counting resumes today of just over 41,000 remaining ballots. A Daily News analysis, based on data provided by the state Division of Elections, shows that 56 percent of those ballots come from districts that favored Begich on Nov. 4.

The state will count about 40 percent of remaining ballots today and the rest early next week. Democrats like the trend but are wary of expressing too much confidence in a state that for decades has proven a graveyard for their hopes.

"I'll celebrate when I hear the words ... 'and the winner is,' " Begich said.

Read more: http://www.adn.com/elections/senate/story/588675.html

[onehandle]

1. Is he seeking to overcome Begich's vote lead?

I suspect his biggest worry is when or if Bush will pardon him.

[pollo poco]

2. if he wins

He could resign, and Palin could appoint herself his replacement. I really wonder if that isn't the point of the exercise. I don't think they expected so much pressure to count the votes they "misplaced". He's been convicted, so, barring a presidential pardon, he would have to leave office to serve his time. And the Governor would be in charge of replacing him.

[Tansy_Gold]

3. No she can't appoint herself

Not in Alaska.

[gratuitous]

4. I don't think she can appoint herself

After Sen. Murkowski ran for governor, he appointed his daughter to his now-vacant Senate seat as some kind of family heirloom. The Alaska legislature then set down some rules for successor appointments, and I think it would now be illegal for Gov. Palin to anoint herself Sen. Palin. Actual Alaskans can probably fill us all in on the current state of Alaskan law, though.

[Arctic Dave]

5. Even though Alaska went for McSame in the prez race,

we are trying to make amends by booting hulk mccrankypants.

Things are looking good.

I'm sure once his defeat is finalized we won't have to hear about phailin any longer since the GOP doesn't need to keep her in the spotlight for a possible run-off elections.