Begich and Franken, things looking good ?

[steve2470]

Can someone update me quickly on the Alaska and Minnesota senatorial races, please ? TYIA. :)

[PBS Poll-435]

1. Recount in MN starts tomorrow

An analysis over at 538 claims that Franken will win the recount.

AK is looking good with Begich ahead by >1000 with about 60% of the remaining vote coming from favorable areas.

[steve2470]

2. thank you ! :) nt

[4lbs]

3. Begich is ahead by 1022 votes, Franken is behind by 206 votes.

The remaining 40,000 or so ballots in Alaska to be counted are from Democratic areas. That would give Begich the good chance of increasing his lead over Stevens.

The recount in Minnesota will begin soon after the current vote tally is "certified". However, Franken has a decent chance of winning because the recount will examine some 34,000 uncounted "questionable" ballots that are mainly from Democratic areas of Minnesota. Even if two-thirds of them are thrown out, it still gives Franken a good chance of picking up 500 or more votes and overtaking Coleman.

[BuyingThyme]

4. Franken will win.

Alaska looks very good.

[Blue_In_AK]

5. The Alaska counting resumes today.

I believe tomorrow is the last day for receiving absentee ballots (many of our come from overseas because of the military). I've got the results page running in the background here, refreshing periodically, but I doubt that any more results will be in until this afternoon. They seem to be updating only late in the day. I'll let you all know as soon as I hear anything.

The magic number is 1600. The state will pay for a recount if the difference is less than 1600, but if the spread is more than that, Ted and/or the Republicans would have to pay for it.