Yeah, I'm a bit pissed about Lieberman. I recall him defeating Weicker in 1988, and learning that Lieberman was to the right of the liberal Republican (Yes, Weicker was, and later left the Rs to be Gov. of Connecticut as an independent). When Gore picked Lieberman in 2000, I figured he had just sent a big FU to the left. But in spite of it all, I'm glad that a Dem is winning in Alaska.
Mark Begich now leads by 2,374 votes. Looks like all that awaits Stevens is jail, unless Bush pardons him.
Latest numbers:
US SENATOR
Total
Number of Precincts 438
Precincts Reporting 438 100.0 %
Times Counted 311954/495731 62.9 %
Total Votes 307587
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Begich, Mark DEM 146286 47.56%
Bird, Bob AI 12829 4.17%
Gianoutsos, Ted NA 1334 0.43%
Haase, Fredrick D. LIB 2398 0.78%
Stevens, Ted REP 143912 46.79%
Write-in Votes 828 0.27%
State of Alaska - 2008 General Election, Unofficial Results
More, after the fold.
Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich's lead over Sen. Ted Stevens is growing as ballot counting continues today in the race for U.S. Senate.
The latest numbers, issued just before 1 p.m., show Begich up by 2,374 votes.
The state has counted over 16,000 absentee and questioned ballots so far today from Southeast Alaska, Anchorage, the Kenai Peninsula and Kodiak. Elections officials expect to count nearly 8,000 more this afternoon.
snip
Today's count should pretty much decide the race, although there will be overseas absentees to count over the next couple days and a likely recount in early December.
Since the state moved to mostly machine counting, recent Alaska recounts have resulted in little change in the final tally.
Begich has so far today doubled the 1,022-vote lead he held over Stevens on Friday, the last time the state counted votes in the race.
Anchorage Daily News
Begich will be the first Democrat to represent Alaska in the U.S. Senate in nearly 30 years. I think since Gravel, but I may be wrong.
I want 60 Democratic Senators. I want EFCA. I want health care reform. We need an economic stimulus.
Now we need Franken and Martin next.
This is good news.