Really, how long ago. This article says they have not counted the absentee votes yet. 21 minutes ago.
news.yahoo.com
ANCHORAGE, Alaska – With his political future uncertain, a weary Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens, looking at bit deflated, left a gathering of supporters to go home and get some sleep. With 96 percent of precincts reporting, Stevens — the longest serving Republican in the history of the Senate — led Tuesday with 48 percent of the vote compared to 47 percent for two-term Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich, a Democrat.
Stevens' lead was fewer than 4,000 votes with more than 40,000 absentee ballots to be counted within 10 days.
Since Stevens has been senator, he's never even remotely been in such a tight race, said his spokesman, Aaron Saunders. But, he said, Stevens was cautiously optimistic about the outcome.
Stevens, 84, has served continuously in the Senate since 1968. He normally skates to easy wins in this solidly Republican state.
"The senator doesn't want to appear overconfident. There are a lot of votes out there," Saunders said.
Both candidates hold a nostalgic appeal for voters; Stevens because he is a legendary figure and Begich because his father was Nick Begich, Alaska's third congressman who died in 1972 while running for re-election and is fondly remembered still.
Begich, calling Tuesday's election "historic," said he appeals to voters from both parties who are sick of the partisan politics that typifies Washington, D.C., these days. |
