AK-Sen: Gap Closes to 971 Votes

[ccharles000]

http://swingstateproject.com

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.

Before this latest batch of counted ballots, Stevens has leading by 3257 votes, so this is some excellent movement.

Altogether, the state is counting 60,000 absentee or questioned ballots today -- so there's a lot of room left for movement here. On top of that, there are an additional 35,000 votes that the Alaska Department of Elections will be counting over the next week. More updates as we get 'em...

[hulka38]

1. Thank you for posting this,

[Eric J in MN]

2. If Ted Stevens wins, it's probably fraud.

The morning of the election, this polling average was Mark Begich 55, Ted Stevens 40:

http://www.electoral-vote.com/evp2008/Senate/Maps/Nov04-s.html

[ProgressiveEconomist]

3. K&R. If Stevens lost almost 2300 in 28,000 absentee ballots, he should lose at least another

at least another 2300 in the remaining 12,000 absentee ballots and 50,000 more early votes and provisional ballots, IMO.

Obama may get a 60-seat Senate after all!

[ORDagnabbit]

4. if its close I wonder if alaska has a mandatory hand recount law?

[catgirl]

5. K & R!!!

[democrattotheend]

6. Now apparently Begich is up by 3

No, that's not a typo. Begich 125,019, Stevens 125,016

[GrizzlyMan]

7. Palin will make sure Stevens wins

Then after he's expelled from the Senate, she's free to take over his spot. I feel bad for Begich. He picked the most corrupt state in America to pursue a political career.

[ColbertWatcher]

8. I think her brand is so bad, Stevens may ask her to stay far, far away. n/t

[Lochloosa]

9. Begich is up 814 now

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x7860064