One down, two to go. And does this mean Palin can disappear now? She's done more interviews in the last week then she did the entire campaign. I haven't been able to eat for days! :)

Assuming he'd be a good candidate for re-election in 2010 (I don't know enough about Illinois politics to say), I'd be comfortable seeing Jessie Jackson, Jr. in Obama's chair.

CJ, I think you're confusing Alaska and Illinois. I know, lot's of political felons in both, but still. :)

Just speculation, but it would seem to be in the Republicans' interest to fight for this seat, perhaps with a recount. If Begich wins now it is all over. If Stevens wins and then resigns or is forced out then Palin has a chance to run for that seat.

"I haven't talked to him since the evening of the election, when I called and just told him I was sorry for the way it turned out."

So the pollster called when Stevens was *winning* to express his sorrow for the outcome?

Didn't look like CJ was confusing anything; he was just talking about Illinois. And CJ, no, Jackson would not be a good candidate for reelection in 2010, mostly because so many people here dislike his father.

And with all due humility and shame, recognizing the irony of an Illinoisan asking this question, WTF IS WITH ALASKA THAT THIS ELECTION WAS EVER IN QUESTION?! I know we have several cool Alaskans posting here, and I gotta say: Sarah Palin, Ted Stevens, Don Young! Do non-insane Alaskans just go around banging their heads against glaciers at this heinous political lineup?

Yes, please, lets speculate on some of great things to come out of a Begich win.

For one thing, a sea change in Alaska politics. In spite of Palin & Don Young's abysmal reelection to Congress, the Alaska Legislature has been getting bluer. We'll be no longer dominated by an all-Republican Congressional delegation; the disasters that Alaska Palinbot wingnuts predict out of an Obama administration will fail to happen; the national Republican party will continue to fracture -- very possibly this will also translate into fractures in Republican cohesiveness in-state, & a further bluing of the state.

After all, Palin was not well-liked by a lot of the Republican muckety-mucks in-state until she became a VP candidate: this state, as much as others, has a divide between the evangelist/fundamentalist working class social conservatives & the higher income "Hillside" Republicans.

So the pollster called when Stevens was *winning* to express his sorrow for the outcome?

He knew what the early and absentee votes would do. What's more interesting is that the news media decided they would rather ignor even the possibility and focus on Palin's possible future as Stevens' replacement.

So the pollster called when Stevens was *winning* to express his sorrow for the outcome?

There's a difference between actually winning and having the media say that you're winning. The pollster probably knew the difference. I wish he'd explain it to some of the stupid pundits. No one should have been saying anything about Stevens winning in Alaska with the number of ballots that they apparently had outstanding.

Matt W: "I haven't talked to him since the evening of the election, when I called and just told him I was sorry for the way it turned out."

So the pollster called when Stevens was *winning* to express his sorrow for the outcome?

He was probably talking about the outcome of Stevens' trial.

Don't count 'Senator Palin' talk out just yet. If she misses this opportunity than she will probably go after Lisa Murkowski's seat in 2010. If only for the chance to trump both father and daughter in a republican primary.

The only real factor is whether she can retain her popularity in Alaska for two more years as governor. There is only so long she can ride the coattails of her windfall oil profit checks. She's reaching the point where she actually has to start governing for real. And all indications are that she is even more incompotent than Bush.

At this point I would say she was a lock in a special election with Begich as her main adversary. Two years from now? Her approval ratings have taken a serious hit over the last couple of months (although they remain high) and there really are no big wins she can get meaning they will just keep going down.

WTF IS WITH ALASKA THAT THIS ELECTION WAS EVER IN QUESTION?!

God works in mysterious ways. Think of it as him slowly opening a door for Stevens and the door leads to the Federal Pen.

Just speculation, but it would seem to be in the Republicans' interest to fight for this seat, perhaps with a recount. Posted by: JohnK

Not when it goes past a 1,000 vote difference. With such a small electorate, it's unlikely to make even an 800 vote count error.

From the beginning Governor Palin has been in a position where she can't lose no matter how it shakes out.
If Begich wins she runs for another four years as Governor and then runs against him six years from now with the advantage of running from the position of "A reformer with results" and the use of the state resources.

Thanks tons and many kudos to the much esteemed Richard Wolffe for making a point to remind Keith Olbermann yesterday that every vote "obviously does count" (upon discussing this unbelievably close race).

That comment to Keith did NOT go un-noticed.

If you don't vote (when you are actually legally allowed such an amazing privilege) you lose your right to comment on politics.

Dittman believes early and absentee ballots, which compromise the approximately 40,000 votes left to count,

compromise = comprise?

shortstop asks:WTF IS WITH ALASKA THAT THIS ELECTION WAS EVER IN QUESTION?!

The answer is simple and it has very little to do with either ideology or party affiliation.

MONEY

Ted Stevens and Don Young are masters at horse trading in congress. Why do you think Alaska gets more money per capita from the Federal Government than any other state? The Congressional delegation does its job. Which is why I am not the least bit surprised this election was a nail biter.

That's why even Democrats voted for Stevens for so many years (they may have plugged their noses but they voted for him). He brings home the bacon. Every Alaskan knows when Stevens goes Alaska's share of the Federal pie will drop considerably. Stevens and Young were both in Congress when the oil spigot was turned on and they've been benefiting from it ever since. If they'd been Democrats they still would have held their seats for 40 years.

As for Palin's improbable win as governor. That can be laid at the feet of Frank Murkowski who will probably be remembered as one of Alaska's worst governors (which is quite a feat). He made the mistake of going after the permanent fund (think about what happens to politicians who mess with Social Security multiplied by 1,000). A dead sled dog could have beaten him in the primaries after that.

A dead sled dog

I assume police are listing renowned animal lover Sarah Palin as a person of interest?

No, but despite my snark, I do understand why the bleeding sideshows of Stevens, Young and Palin happened and continue to happen. At some point, though, you'd think a little dignity would kick in among the Alaskan populace. After all, Sarah Palin assures us that Pork is Bad, and I have no reason to think she was insincere about that.

Thewilderness
"From the beginning Governor Palin has been in a position where she can't lose no matter how it shakes out."

I wouldn't just bet the chicken ranch on that. While I am sure some of her more ardent followers will be cheering her on, all she is doing now is positioning herself to catch a number of anvils as her mouth keeps driving up her negatives and showing more and more of her vulnerabilities. And I would expect an inside job to finish her off from her own party at that...Too much profile and too much of the wrong kind of attention...

At some point, though, you'd think a little dignity would kick in among the Alaskan populace. After all, Sarah Palin assures us that Pork is Bad, and I have no reason to think she was insincere about that. Posted by: shortstop

And where would this political dignity come from? Stevens, though convicted, was almost reelected, Young, under a cloud, was apparently reelected, and airhead Palin is, inexplicably, now the most popular politician in the state. The people of Alaska liked the status quo.

If Palin runs for a second term as governor and is not reelected, then we might say we've seen a change in Alaska.

Palin-Murkowski?

Cat-fight!

I'm into it.

So, if Begich wins, and then Martin or Franken wins, would that vindicate those who are trying so hard not hurt Lieberman's feelings?

(Ducks to avoid the bricks being thrown at his head)

Only if he then becomes a reliable vote for cloture. And Snowe/Collins/Specter doesn't.

Yeah, but if I recall correctly, Stevens' pollster has been saying this pretty much all along, even before the election. He has managed to talk down his candidate's odds of winning in every interview I've ever read.

Has Ms. Palin ever stated publicly whether she voted in November to re-elect Mr. Stevens and/or Mr. Young?

So, if Begich wins, and then Martin or Franken wins, would that vindicate those who are trying so hard not hurt Lieberman's feelings? Posted by: Parsley Sage

No. Not unless Obama's got the goods on Joe and thus can guarantee that he votes party line all the time. And since this is unlikely, he needs to be stripped of all responsibilities.