Chances of improving on 56 senate seats are slim

[bj2110]

Oregon looks to be lost, Merkeley is 11K down after the full unofficial count 628000 - 617000

Minnesota will probably be a re-count, but Franken has to find 722 votes to tip the scales. Full, unofficial total is 1,211,616 to 1,210,895

Stevens won the Alaska election by roughly 3350 votes, 106,350 to 103,000.

Chambliss in GA looks to be headed to a run-off (under 50%), but it's extremely close to that 50% mark, and Martin (the Dem) would have to find or flip roughly 100K votes to win, although they're still haven't posted either the early votes or the absentees.

I think Franken is our best shot, although I'm not sure what happens with Stevens seat when Reid kicks him out. Does anyone know how/if they fill it?

[Captain Hilts]

1. Shitzilla!

[OmahaBlueDog]

2. Usually, a goveror (Sarah Palin) nominates a replacement

The replacement usually has to be approved by the legislative body, and will usually serve until the next round of elections, when a "special election" is held.

Don't bank on Stevens getting thrown out. He has many old friends on both sides of the aisle.

[MessiahRp]

3. Mitch McConnell told Stevens that Republicans will seek his removal from the Senate

They are petrified that scandals will bog them down for election cycles and keeping Stevens in only accentuates their corrupt nature.

Also I thought Palin doesn't have a say in this because the law changed after the last Governor appointed his daughter.

Could this be another run-off?

Rp

[OmahaBlueDog]

10. I had forgotten about Murkowski

thanks.

BTW, I think she's up for re-election in '10. Maybe we can get Tony Knowles in that seat.

[bigbrother05]

4. Thought a felony conviction pretty much seals it

[slampoet]

13. Palin can't appoint a replacement. Alaska constitution REQUIRES a special election.

[BurtWorm]

5. I haven't heard Schumer complaining about Howard Dean yet, though.

Why so silent, I wonder?

[central scrutinizer]

6. Oregon is tightening

the bulk of the votes yet to be counted are in Multnomah County (Portland) - the latest count (12:15 PST) at

http://www.oregonlive.com/special/index.ssf/2008/11/senate.html

has Smith's lead down to 5K

[kstewart33]

16. Merkley could still pull it out.

Multonah and Lane counties are big for him and there are plenty of votes to be counted. He could catch up with these 2 counties.

[GOPNotForMe]

7. OR only counted 71 percent of votes and now he's only down ~5k!

[unpossibles]

8. still have not posted the early or absentees?

then it ain't over, far as I am concerned. Mostly Dems voted early this year in many states.

[notadmblnd]

9. So they kept their hands off the presidential race and fixed a couple congress critters?

[Flabbergasted]

11. Merkley may pull it out I think....Still a lot ballots to count in Multnomah County...

About 150,000 ballots to be counted and we are 70% dem.

[Lifetimedem]

12. How about Sara appoints herself or hubby?

[OmahaBlueDog]

14. That was my first thought. Can't happen -- see post above

After Lisa Murkowski was nominated, they passed a special state law. I'd forgotten that.

[WeDidIt]

15. Oregon only 72% in at this time

Most of the remaining votes come from Portland and other Dem leaning areas.

Alaska is still counting some 40,000 absentees, won't know until the end of the week how that one turned out.

MN may tip, but I wouldn't bet the farm on it.

GA looks to be a fairly solid keeper for the Republicans, though Martin might be able to raise funding to get past Chambliss in the runoff.

[neverforget]

17. Merkley is going to win because Multnomah is HEAVILY Democratic

and that's where the ballots are left to count. I heard this morning from SOS Bradbury that there are around 200,000 ballots yet to count from Multnomah. Merkley is going to pull this out. Trust me.