The Senate: Who's Got It? Probably the Dems.
On Tuesday evening, this site called the Virginia US Senate election for incumbent George Allen based upon a significant lead and over 3/4's of the vote accounted for.
Allen's victory, combined with a win by Bob Corker in Tennessee, would have locked control of the US Senate for the Democrats.
However the tight margins in Virginia and in Montana, where Conrad Burns made a spirited comeback in a race that was considered decided by most outlets, likely means that we are about to go into "overtime", that is lawyers from both parties are on the ground as this update is being penned to argue over which votes should be counted and pursuing any irregularities that would taint the contest, not to mention a series of recounts.
As it stands now, Allen is trailing Democrat Jim Webb by 7,000 votes with a handful of precincts outstanding. In Montana, Burns is running behind Democrat Jon Tester by a shade under 2,000.
Recounts were a major factor in determining George W. Bush's victory in Florida in 2000, but the most relevant recount as far as control of the US Senate goes has to do with the recount in the Washington State gubernatorial election in 2004 where the Republican had the lead in the first tabulation and after the initial recount. However, the Democrat won after a second recount thanks in part to heavily Democratic King County's "changed" returns.
The point is Washington State provides recent precedent that a recount in a close election can tip the scales in an election.
However, as Republicans are less bold than Democrats in the art of "politicking", the money is on the Democrats holding on to both seats and thus taking control of the Senate.
Allen's victory, combined with a win by Bob Corker in Tennessee, would have locked control of the US Senate for the Democrats.
However the tight margins in Virginia and in Montana, where Conrad Burns made a spirited comeback in a race that was considered decided by most outlets, likely means that we are about to go into "overtime", that is lawyers from both parties are on the ground as this update is being penned to argue over which votes should be counted and pursuing any irregularities that would taint the contest, not to mention a series of recounts.
As it stands now, Allen is trailing Democrat Jim Webb by 7,000 votes with a handful of precincts outstanding. In Montana, Burns is running behind Democrat Jon Tester by a shade under 2,000.
Recounts were a major factor in determining George W. Bush's victory in Florida in 2000, but the most relevant recount as far as control of the US Senate goes has to do with the recount in the Washington State gubernatorial election in 2004 where the Republican had the lead in the first tabulation and after the initial recount. However, the Democrat won after a second recount thanks in part to heavily Democratic King County's "changed" returns.
The point is Washington State provides recent precedent that a recount in a close election can tip the scales in an election.
However, as Republicans are less bold than Democrats in the art of "politicking", the money is on the Democrats holding on to both seats and thus taking control of the Senate.
posted by BourbonConservative at 9:22 AM
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