CNN

Excellent! It was amazing that Alaskans, much less anyone, could elect a convicted felon, who couldn't even vote for himself!

What's wrong with people in Alaska? That guy shouldn't have received a single vote. I guess that explains a lot Palin's popularity. They have really low standards for politicians.

Good! Looks like that's one door God won't be showing Palin so she can plow through it.

Gotta tell ya – If Alaskans do elect a felon to the Senate then they will have be put in the same league as the TX, WVA and LA low information voters, you betcha....

Who are these people who are voting in Alaska? The same crowd that elected Palin two years ago, is now voting voting to send a convicted felon to Washington.

By the way, how is it that Ted Stevens, a convicted felon, was able to vote, when millions of other convicted felons weren't?

Hey Mary:

"You elected Obama for President even though he was not born in the United States!!!! Now who are the smart ones????"

The smart ones are the people who VOTED FOR OBAMA (yes, an American born president, unless you think Hawaii isn't 1 of the 50 states). Obama will lead the American people – as opposed to republicans who only lead the rich – to a better life than we've had for the last 8 years.

Go Begich! Yes we can. What wonderful news. I know more votes need counting, but I hope Begich wins hands down. Ted Stevens epitomizes what is wrong with American politics and, if he were to win, he shouldn't be able to stay if office. Mainly to avoid more corruption should Palin appoint herself as Senator after kicking Stevens out. Her so called "press conference" at the RGA this morning was yet another Failin Palin joke.

What does it say about a state that would want a convicted felon as their Senator? Oh I forgot Alaska elected a bimbo for their Governor. For all blind Republicans who said GWBush was 'smart' – let's not make the same mistake – her gaffes speak volumes about her ability to negotiate, to manipulate ideas, to abstract thought, etc, etc, etc... Blind Republicans are what doomed the party in this last election... They sucked McCain into their vacuous space. The party needs to stop giving those numbskulls air time...they have enough air between their ears – they don't need any more. This election has shown us this country really want intelligent, thoughtful people in government.

Good for you Begich, I was shocked the day after the election when I heard that putz Stevens could be re-elected. This will make it 58 Senate seats. Come on Franken and Martin, we need you both and we got 60. Then it is time to bring the pain on racist, horse pucky policies brought by the repubs over the last 12 years.

GARY: Why so much hate towards someone that you never met and who only showed that a previous statement made by someone else (and not you) was untrue? Who's the hater?
Get a life...

Looks like God is closing that door for Sarah "The Socialist" Palin

Good-I happy for him. Don't need any more crooks for alaska

CNN, please release my comment from "awaiting moderation."

Sarah Palin is the Tammy Faye Bakker of politics: A mindless, shallow moron continually spouting off nonsense to get media attention for herself. Stevens is a crook. 'Nuff said-go Begich!!!!!

I think a door just slammed shut for Sarah the Fraud. Thank you, God!!!

Good luck Mark! For the rest – get over it. The Repugs need to accept that Obama rightfuly won the election and move on. As Saint Sarah claims that things are in Gods hands, then why can't you think that God may have wanted Obama to win? And lets lay off the good people of Alaska already. Remember that 46% of the country voted for McCain – the're not idiots, they were just wrong. The idiots are those that can't let the B.S. go, like not born in America, a socialist , a terrorist and on and on.

I think the people are speaking. If a convicted felon cand vote, then a convicted felon should not hold be allowed to hold a public office.

GO Begich GO

Help keep Palin in Alaska!

Stevens was found GUILTY, not sentenced yet and Palin was found GUILTY, no punishment. Being found guilty is not cleared of all charges. WINK WINK, Gary & JM. You betcha!!

You two are GUILTY of not Googling the facts. GUILTY.

I hope this lead holds, but knowing Sarah Palin – her gunpowder-stained fingerprints are trying hard to get into this one so she can take over Ted's Senate seat and run for president in 2012....

So much hate coming from the right. Can you keep it up for 4 years minimum?

The fact that the race is even close does not speak too highly of Alaskans.
What other state in the union (and yes AIP it is a union whether you like it or not) would elect a convicted felon?

Begich will win. Nate Silver said so, and Nate Silver is THE MAN!

Best of luck to you Mayor. I am keeping my fingers crossed for you. I am sure its been a tough race but you deserve to win.

In-ter-es-ting!! I love it!!! Hope the old felon can go home now and we don't have to hear about "what if" re: Sarah Palin anymore.

Stevens' defeat would be an great first step in redeeming a state that has much to answer for in keeping Mr. $250,000-what's-the-internet? in business for so long. Not to mention electing a governor who needs speech therapy at age 44.

Should be interesting to see how the frozen state deals with a budget deficit too. Must've been nice living like Exxon while the rest of the nation struggles to heat their homes and fill their tanks.

I always thought the "welfare state" was a metaphor until I learned about Alaska.

JM
Bush has not lied? At least Clinton's lie did not cost us billions of dollars and thousands of lives.

Stevens promised them two igloos in every yard if they vote for him.

Gary, what the "heck" are you trying to say? Your cursing rants make no sense whatsovever. Instead of telling another commentor to 'get a life" you need to get a spell checker and some grammar lessons.

Mary November 13th, 2008 11:17 am ET
Quit bad mouthing the people of Alaska!!! You elected Obama for President even though he was not born in the United States!!!! Now who are the smart ones???? Obama has more skeltons in his closet than a halloween store!!!

Mary, Hawaii is one of the 50 states while PANAMA is not. Like Palin you don't know your own country's states. It is wise to understand that first. Recognize your ignorance before being such a bad mouth.

GO MARK! THE COUNTRY IS BEHIND YOU!

SEND STEVENS TO JAIL and IMPEACH or RECALL PALIN:

Housegate, travelgate, stupidgate.....Palin for Prisoner of the year in 2009!!!

Gary this is no country for bitter old men. this election is proving that across the country.

Of course he did. Anytime there is either a recount or the process continues far longer than it is supposed to it always favors Democrats because they magically find votes that were not there before. Anytime an election is stolen it is almost exclusively stolen by the Dems

This is still the initial vote count? CNN, why didn't your article discuss the obvious question–why is Alaska taking so long to finish their initial vote count? What's causing the holdup?

Um... they are still counting the early votes? Maybe... just maybe... it would be good to count the early votes... EARLY. And the other votes as they come in.... it sounds like the early and absentee ballots came in and were set aside in a shoe box until now.

Good Stevens should be ousted anyway.

I almost feel bad for him...I'd be a little insulted if I didn't win by a landslide over a convicted felon.

Truly AMAZING!!!

No way, no how, no felon senator.

hey GARY November 13th, 2008 11:17 am ET
u r an angry little person, aren't. stop hating. PRESIDENT OBAMA IS MORE MAN THAN U WILL EVER BE.

I think that door that Sarah was going to plow through just slammed shut in her face.

CNN, you have become so irrelevant since your management decided to go via the FOX Lite route - Racist Lou Dobbs and Glenn Beck, Tragedy exploiter Nancy Grace, Sexist only story Campbell Brown and Horribly unfunny D.L. Hugley. Even Anderson Cooper is no longer a good show to watch. Where are the stories about what is going on in the world? You are so obsessed with Palin and keep asking, will President-elect Obama make the right decisions? Before it was Candy Crowley, Brown, Bolger and Cooper asking, Do we really know Barack Obama?

I'm surprised at how many idiots blog on here. People are still saying that Obama wasn't born in the US? Excuse me...that was McCain. Dumb, dumb Repubs...GO AWAY!!

Ted Stevens should Jump off the tallest cliff in Alaska.If he is doing this at this age could you imagine what he was doing at a younger age. Could you imagine Stevens,Cheney,and Bush meeting up for a DISCUSSION. These three crooks could bring down the entire world.

FiveThirtyEight.com now says Begich is "overwhelmingly favored" to win, since most of the remaining ballots come from the Anchorage area. My fingers are crossed! Go Begich!!!!

Sarah Palin is the Tammy Faye Bakker of politics: A mindless moron who is continually spouting off nonsense to get media attention. Stevens is a crook. "Nuff said-go Begich!!!

I hope you win Mark Begich, we DO NOT want your gov to take the senate set. We have had enough of her. plz keep her in alaska. she should not be let out again.

Mary – "Obama wasn't born in the United States"? Really? in case you didn't know, Hawaii is our 50th state and had been since 1959!

Mary November 13th, 2008 11:17 am ET

Quit bad mouthing the people of Alaska!!! You elected Obama for President even though he was not born in the United States!!!! Now who are the smart ones???? Obama has more skeltons in his closet than a halloween store!!!
*********************************************************************

DUH – Hawaii is part of the United States of America – now who is the smart one – NOT YOU!!

if recounts almost always reveal that votes cast for democrats were not initially counted, what does that suggest about the two elections Bush presumably won, and the real numbers of this last presidential election? Could it be that the map is even more blue than is already reflected in the electoral college?

The Republicans messed this country up and it's going to take a Democrat to fix it. The Republicans can't stand that they lost to a African- American who I voted for.

I would hope that a convicted felon would lose. What's up with the people of Alaska? It was always my dream to vacation there, but between Palin and Stevens they sure have dirtied up my image of the state.

Glad to see that he's beating the felon!!!! Only in America would the numbers be so close like that!

JM November 13th, 2008 10:36 am ET Jesse, get you head out of the sand. Palin was cleared of any wrong doing in the trooper firing investigation.
_________________________________________________________
No she wasn't, the legislative council said she did violate ethics. He abused her power by trying to use her position to intimidate people into doing what she wanted. The probe by her own people ( people she appointed) only stated that she didn't break any laws. It's in their laws as Governor she can fire whoever she wants for whatever reason.

The Begich unit, tertiary adjunct 01202008 will prevail. Resistance is futile....

Good! Thanks for saving him the trouble of getting elected and then kicked off

Hey Mary, you mean Hawaii where Obama was born is not part of the US?

HAHAHAHA, JM you just got served..
GARY, are you a little angry there buddy? truth hurts huh?

GARY!! Jeez, your post is 100 times more hateful than the one by Matt Shine. I always TRY to stay objective here, but.....

Go back to your copy of Mein Kampf LOSER!!!!

Great! We need a 58th Democratic senator in Congress.

I hope Begich wins, because it will end any hope of Palin even getting remotely near the Senate, thus putting a swift end to any future political ambitions she might have.

Great news, now all you have to do is find Governor Palin another job when her term ends, then I can re-book my Alaska cruise.

I pray Begich wins!!!

This never should have been a contest to begin with – how can Alaskans think that a felon should be re-elected? Is this the politics of ignornant people?

Let's hope the trend continues and Stevens loses the race. We don't want to run the risk of having Stevens win, go to prison, and then having Palin naming another Republican – or God forbid – herself – to the Senate.

Wow Gary, just al ittle bit angry are we? Sounds like you are the Hater since Obama is the Pres. Get over it ........

Begich please get that corrupt grampa, the convicted felon, out of the Senate!

I cannot believe that ANYONE would vote for Stevens after being convicted. And I cannot believe he was even allowed to run. Really.

WOW and while the IDIOT PALIN is talking about President of 2012 too bad she is not lobbbying to remove a FELON from her HOME STATE,............WHY TO GO GOVERNOR!!!!!!!!!!

Seems like most of you are worried more that Gov. Palin will get the seat in the Senate more than Stevens being a convicted felon and winning the seat. Why are you so afraid of this woman? I thought this was a free country and with that people have the right to have different ideas than you. So the ones that are calling her all these names maybe you should sweep around your own door steps first or are you PERFECT?

YES WE CAN!

WHY WOULD ANYONE IN ALASKA PICK STEVENS? HE WAS FOUND GUILTY I'M COME ON. WHAT IS THE POINT TO PUT A PERSON IN OFFICE THAT IS GOING TO PRISON. WHAT A JOKE, NO WONDER OTHER COUNTRIES LAUGH AND LOOK AT US LIKE WERE NUTS.

Poor Joe the plumber got caught under the bus,I guess Stevens is next.

I thought early voting was supposed to help protect your vote... why are so many early votes only being counted now?

7 felony counts = okay to be a US Senator
1 felony count = no rights to vote

What's wrong with this picture???

The people of Alaska should be ashamed of themselves for even having a race this close.

If Stevens gets back in, Sarah Palin may just squirm into the Senate. God forbid such an event from happening.

ted stevens is the best that the GOP can offer america? ANOTHER corrupt politician. their hypocrisy has gone too far. i suspect he'll lose and dems will gain another seat in the senate with an honorable politician like begich.

Yeah Baby! theres # 58! One more in MN and one in GA ans we got a filabuster proof 60! Things might actually get done!

Maybe the U.S.can sell off Alaska to the Chinese to help us pay off our debt.

Then they can worry about Palin & Stevens . . .

I think Palin would appoint her husband Todd to the senate. On the Wolf Blitzer interview she mentioned ..."she is not thinking of appointing one of her family" which is politician speak for 'she is thinking about it'

I am sure she would find a way to justify it.

Wow, what a surprise. When you ACTUALLY COUNT THE VOTES, the democrats usually come out on top.

Hope this holds up so that we don't have yet another republican felon on the Hill.

Last I heard, Franken was closing the gap to only a couple of hundred votes in Minnesota. Once again, a case of actually counting the votes.

For you true American patriots in GA, crank it up and keep Chambliss out so we can heal the damage of 8 years of GOP totalitarianism.

Here is what happens if Stevens wins.
Palin resigns as a Governor. Stevens keeps the seat warm until that point, then he resigns.
Palin's Lieutenant-Governor, who authomaticaly became Governor, appoints Palin to the Senate seat.
No, I am not paranoid and it is not against the law. Immoral but not illegal, just like everything else about this little group.

Come on Alaska! Why can't you get with the rest of the country and count all votes on election day?!? I hope Stevens looses so he can go to jail and Palin doesn't take over his seat. Go Begich!!!

GARY,

Please stop yelling and swearing in all caps.

And for the record, no one voted for Obama to make history. They voted for him because he promised change and an end to the failed policies of the Republican administrations that John McCain has been part of forever. If we could have trusted Republicans to make "real decisions" we might not have had Sarah Palin as his running mate or one of the worst, most aimless and strategy-free campaigns in history.

How come a state with the lowest population in the 50 states is taking this long to count votes? Especially when one of the candidates is a convicted felon? I just don't get this at all. Even if elected, he faces a lengthy appeal process, with a high probability that the conviction will stand which will prevent him from taking his seat. Duh.

RE: Minnesota (where I live) is recounting the ballots. The last I heard, the difference between the two candidates was no more than about 205 votes (in Coleman's favor), and the state law says that if the race is less than 1/2 of a percent, then there is an automatic recount, unless one person waives their right (which Franken wont do). I voted for the independent, Dean Barkley, and wish that we'd now have a runoff election, so I'd have the opportunity to vote for my 2nd choice candidate.

I'm glad they are recounting – with an election so close -only 200 ballots out of millions cast, I think making sure that we got it right, is the right thing to do.

Good luck Begich, beat the felon.

Begich 08

I can't believe there are so many bitter, mean left-wing libs still hating on this blog! READ MY LIPS__YOUR CANDIDATE WON!–let other people blog and respect their opinions! The stats by CNN are way different than other polls for Palin and her positives are going nowhere but up! Why don't you just enjoy your candidate's "historic" win? Palin had a fantastic hour interview with one of the best–Larry King and did very well. Give it a rest –she will be around for A LONG TIME.

The GOP do not care for anybody except for rich white people. No others need apply. They are racially insensitive

Just HOW LONG does it take to count the ballots in Alaska???? The election was 9 days ago and they're still counting ballots??? Yes, I know most of these must be hand counted, but for crying out loud, how long are they going to take?

I do hope Begich wins, then we won't have to contend with any questional actions of Stevens "stepping down" and a certain governor appointing herself Senator to serve his term and keep her name in the news.

Hey Gary quit your pouting and hate spewing! It is that hatred that has cost your party the election! If you truly cared for the country you should have demanded that your party stood up to Bush instead of rubber stamping his every illegal move! Welcome back to minority status! It was well earned and deserved and with people like you still spewing hate and division it sounds like your party will be in the minority for a LONG time!

(GARY) Wow. Caps Lock got stuck? Is the truth that hard to take, even after the election is over and everyone in both parties is saying that it's time to move on and unify for the good of the country? Matt Shine is not the hater here. You are. Stop yelling and going all pink in the face and calm yourself. Chamomile tea, maybe.

First of all, I have tried to give Palin the benefit of the doubt by watching her interview, and I must say that she is the most incoherent person I have ever seen. Her answers do not even match most of the questions asked of her. How is she capable? Now, I'm not one of those people who scream, she needs more experience because I believe that with the right guidance, people can become capable. Palin shows no sign of even being sane. Stevens, well, I smell Democratic win.

Its great news to hear that the dems have placed watchdogs in these polling places. I can just imagine what would have happened to votes for Begich and for that matter the ones for Franken if not for these watchful eyes.

Hard to believe so many Alaskans completely disregarded the Steven's 7 felony convictions. He's been told by his own party he will be expelled from the Senate. Guess that's what you get when cousins marry. Not to many branches in the family trees up dere, ey.

Maybe after this we won't have to hear from Palin for a long, long, long, long, long, time.

Gary, I guess you weren't happy with the outcome of the Election. Poor thing. Maybe your party should have been less racist, hateful, divisive, and chose a running mate with an IQ higher than the temperature in Alaska.

SWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEET!!!!!

Boy Gary you sound like a bad loser........

Yes!!!!!!!!!

Let this election season be a lesson for all rethuglicans (not republicans who are decent people) that America is tired of the crooked, lying, cheating, smear tactics and divisiveness and hate your party is becoming known for. This movement is gaining ground and you had better get aboard.

did anyone else have trouble understanding GARY's post?

For all you kiddies that cry foul about 'a convicted felon', there's still an appeal coming, besides which, it was you same people that lathered over Bill Clinton after he perjured himself in front of a Grand Jury after wagging his finger at the American people when he said, "I did not have sex with that woman."

That's why you're laughable hypocrites.

Michael "C" Lorton, Virginia- 538 reports that the rest of the dsitricts are Begich-friendly districts..he's an overwhelming favorite to win the Alaska Senate Race

May God Be With him

If I Were To Committ Multiple Felonies I Would Be In Jail! Why Is He Not In Jail?!

Well, if Ted Stevens wins, I say............

Marion Berry for Alaskan Gov!!

Enough already.......Unbelievable that a felon can stil actually be in the running. Says a lot for good old Wasilla....

What's the story with the Senate race in Minnesota? I know that last time it was really tight with Coleman a little bit ahead.

Great news!

(Matt shine) GET A --ING LIFE. YOUR NOTHING BUT A STINKEN --ING HATER. YOU YOUNG PUNKS CARE NOTHING ABOUT YOUR COUNTRY OR YOU WOULDN'T JUMP ON A BANDWAGON FOR HISTORY NOT EXPERIENCE.YOUR LITTLE SCHOOL BOY OBAMA HAS TO DELIVER ALL HIS BS. HE PROMISES. HE IS GOING TO NEED REP'S FOR REAL DECISIONS.

Quit bad mouthing the people of Alaska!!! You elected Obama for President even though he was not born in the United States!!!! Now who are the smart ones???? Obama has more skeltons in his closet than a halloween store!!!

GREAT NEWS !!! COME ON MINNIE !!! COUNT ALL OF THOSE VOTES FOR AL.

Not to mention he's older than dirt. There's a reason why we take the car keys away from Grandpa eventually.

Stevens does not deserve to win. Alaska, look at what he has already done to you, and he thinks he deserves to win and all the stuff he got.

And the GOP wanted to suppress votes, HA!

Go Begich! Alaska I begining to really worry about you folks...... what is the problem? It is the cold weather hun???

I just don't understand...you can't be a convicted felon to vote, how can you be a convicted felon and hold an elected office?

This is why every vote counts.

This election should be a no brain-er. We and the people of Alaska deserve better then Steven or Palin. Their kind of politics needs to be over now.

I can't believe the people of Alaska would vote for a convicted felon who may be spending some time behind bars. In a state where you can skip out on jury duty during the deliberations of a state Senator who is on trial for corruption and get away with it, anything I guess can happen. The electorate there is similiar to the electorate in Louisiana. How could they be so far apart and so blindly like-minded?

Have you ever noticed that when Congressmen and Senators get into trouble, such as corruption or saying things that would be considered unethical, they never get fired (impeached) or put into jail. I get this feeling that these people are "above the law." If anyone of us did this in the working world, we would have been fired, arrested, and put in jail for many years.

I cannot believe that people of Alaska knowingly voted for a convicted felon. Hopefully, the number of common sense people who voted for Begich will put him over the top. Absolutely amazing....

Mr. Larry king,
Ted Stevens is not Re-elected yet.
Please be careful what you said in interview with Gov.Sarah palin

we need a constitutional ammendment barring any convicted felons fron running for or holding federal public office. if they are subsequently exhonorated (spelling?), then they may run in the next election for that office.

Let's hope the count for Mark Begich keeps rising, and he wins. We have enough crooked Alaskan Republicans in the system. Palin isn't exactly squeaky clean, either, and Stevens has the gall to run and think he can win. Voters are sick and tired of crooked politicians, and voting another one to office makes no sense. I don't think the Alaskans are stupid enough to vote Stevens back in.

Hate to break your heart there JM, but the Alaska Legislative Coucil (comprised of 4 dems and 8 republicans) did find that Palin abused her power as governor. It was the State Personnel Board (which Palin appointed to their positions) that decided that she had not violated a specific eithc law.

I've met Sen. Stevens when i was in Alaska for a photography gig 3 or 4 years ago. He's a good man. He got caught up in some bad stuff but a good man nonetheless. He did a good job as the senator but needs to step down. If this keeps up i would like to see an early concession from Sen. Stevens. Sen. Stevens, keep the integrity you have left and go my friend. Its the Democrats time now.

I hope he wins!

For some reason or another, I smell a Steven's victory...but then looking at the background of Alaska–who in the hell wants to be a '"frozen Senator" nine months out of the year?

Mayor Begich can't take the lead like that from Senator Stevens. If he takes and holds the lead then Gov. Palin and the "First Dude" will not be able to appoint themselves to the Senate.

YAY! C'mon take the seat away from that nutjob!!! Win one more for the dems!!!!

Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) is a convicted felon and criminal. A jury of his peers found hm guilty on all seven charges. He should be arrested and hauled off to prison, where he belongs. You Stevens supporters can go visit him in federal prison, if you want to.

JM November 13th, 2008 10:36 am ET

Jesse, get you head out of the sand. Palin was cleared of any wrong doing in the trooper firing investigation.
-------------------------------–

Actually, you should get YOUR head out of the manure pile, Palin was NOT cleared of any wrongdoing but you Repugnican maniacs ate up that lie when she told you she was clean, take a look here "my friend":

http://edition.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/10/10/palin.investigation/index.html

Great! It was looking like that crook Stevens was going to get to keep his seat in the Senate until they threw him out and open the door for Palin to claim it for herself. I'm sick of both of them!

I guess we won't have any CONVICTED felons in the senate after all.

Yes.... Yes... Yes... I pray that he wins and this way Sarah can stay in Alaska as the Corrupt Govenor who will not be investigated because she's ?????????????

JM – she was found guilty of abuse of power and to have certainly stretch the ethics around her brother in laws firing.

JM, I've been calling on Jefferson to resign for years, but neither him, nor Barney Frank and Charles Rangel (who also should give it up to be honest) have not be CONVICTED of seven felonies....whereas Stevens has.

There's no a in credibility btw.

I think people in Alaska must live in La La Land. They obviously don't have much common sense about them. To cast a vote for Stevens or Palin is just plain stupid. I hope this other guy beats Stevens. I would hate to think Palin could appoint herself and we would have to see her on our televisions again. I really find her annoying. She doesn't stick to task, her conversations stray too much and the things she said about Obama are unforgivable. I think she needs a good dose of Karma.

To: CR in WI;

Amen. From your keyboard to the Lord's Ears.

If this holds...then I will officially take back the things I said about Alaskans. Still, the fact that this election is this close gives me reservations, but everyone can be redeemed.

egon: They're not new ballots – they're the absentee and provisional ballots.

The presidential race is over, but the Palin PR machine is out in full force. It would be nice if Palin would just go back to work quietly and the press not continue to validate her misperception that she is a viable leader in any instance.

Okay,...but what I want to know is why it takes Alaska a month to count the votes. The states basically the size of Memphis, Tennessee. COUNT THE FREAKIN VOTES ALREADY!

Alaska is beginning to rival Florida and Louisiana for the zaniest politics in the country.

This does help to restore my confidence in the integrity of the Alaskan electorate. I cannot believe that a convicted felon was to be elected only to be booted out of the Senate by other Senators. I should think that is not the legacy Stevens would want.

Maybe the grown ups are taking control of the sanitorium.

Jesse, get you head out of the sand. Palin was cleared of any wrong doing in the trooper firing investigation.

I don't see how a republican can win in Alaska after Palin and Stevens corruption scandals...just wouldn't make sense!

Nice to see that the haters from the general election continue to have a place to spew...

Egon: these aren't new ballots. They are the absentee and early ballots that were cast before the election, and have to be hand counted. Provisional ballots are ballots that were cast on election day, when there was some problem with registration – they were registered in one district, but moved, so they weren't listed on the roles in the new location. So they were allowed to vote, but they have to be investigated before the vote is counted (to make sure they didn't vote in the old district AND in the new). The election was NEVER called for one person or the other – from election day on, Alaska has said it would take a few weeks to count these ballots. So, there is likely no monkey business going on.

Same thing is happening in Missouri – the reason the results in the presidential election in MO haven't been called, is because there is only a 6000 vote difference (McCain is leading), and there are 7000 provisional ballots – each of which have to be investigated before it can or will be counted. Now, Obama would have to win something like 93% of the provisional ballots in order to take MO, so it's not terribly likely, even if most of the ballots DO come from Obama-supporting areas.

What a double standard. Where are all you calling on Representative Jefferson from LA to resign or Barney Frank or Charlie Rangel to resign. Show a little honesty for once in you lives. You people have no credability. You were the same people who defended Pres. Clinton when he lied under oath. That's ok, keep talking. The more you speak, the more you expose yourselves.

Truthfully, the Constitution should be changed where any sitting Congressman or Senator is convicted of a crime, regardless of appeals, that Congressman or Senator should be promptly removed. You lose all your credibility as a lawmaker if you violate laws which you may or may not have written.

This is just an utter disgrace.

It's amazing that such an intelligent set of people would even vote for a convicted felon. The FACT, that Stevens was convicted while in office for that felony, should tell the average or any person in the state that he is not fit for that office. It's a trust issue. I don't buy pawning the blame on his wife either. He is the head of his house and just as a Commander is responsible for the people under his command so is Stevens responsible for the people under his roof. It's time for accountability.

I hope Begich wins!! I hope ALL the republican fraud is revealed.

We need this guy to win, bc if Stevens wins and is removed from the Senate, than Palin will appoint herself.

I'm thrilled with the news! GO BEGICH! Now that should keep Palin outof the Senate! SES

What ever happened with the representative that stashed money in the freezer? Rangel? There are crooks on both sides, it is pretty hypocritical to think that only the evil republicians are corrupt. All polticians are corrupt.

Has anyone else noticed that Sarah Palin has mentioned several times that she will do what is best for Alaska and for the country but only once has mentioned her children factoring into whether or not she runs in 2012. When Matt Lauer asked Piper if she had missed a lot of school, she responded "yes" and she followed up with another "yes" when he asked her if catching up with the work was proving to be difficult. How sad that her mother chose to keep her on the trail to trot her out onto stage rather than allow her to go to school.

Good!

People, the presidential election is over, you can let go of the frightening Palin anger!! Honestly, it's going to be ok, you can move on and place the blame of your failures in life towards other things Deb and Glenn.

The Republican Party actually did a great job of campaigning for this seat, showing adds that said a vote for Stevens is a vote for saving the seat for the party. The thought was that Stevens wouldn't be allowed to keep the post anyway but another Republican would replace him. It was smart campaigning that may just work.

The Anchorage area should go for Begich by more than 2-1, and the democrats were encouraging early voting... If Begich is ahead and most of the votes left are early votes from the Anchorage area... This thing is over.

Go ahead and call it.
The convicted felon lost.

Thank God.

YES !

It's amazing that such an intelligent set of people would even vote for a convicted felon. The FACT, that Stevens was convicted while in office for that felon, should tell the average or any person in the state that he is not fit for that office. It's a trust issue. I don't by pawning the blame on his wife either. He is the head of his house and just as a Commander is responsible for the people under his command so is Stevens responsible for the people under his roof. It's time for accountability.

justice

And we thought the networks were calling races responsibly again? Nearly a third of all ballots were yet to be counted.

Come on, baby! My mom and sister (Alaskan Democrats) could use some good news about their state for once!

Living 20 minutes from Wasilla is punishment enough! Let them have this ONE THING!!!!

Obviously many republicans voted for him on the hope he would win the seat and resign – giving Palin the chance to appoint a crony who would keep the seat in republican hands. At least that makes more sense than actually wanting a convicted felon in the Senate – and I hope that was the reason.

It will come our way to 58. People were mislead into believing that Stevens has not been convicted of anything.

Minnesota and Georgia should put us at 60 for now, before we strive to reach 65 to 70 subsequently.

It will and has to happen to usher in a significant change.

Let's just hope this trend continues - beyond me how anybody could have voted for Stevens after the conviction, but then.....they voted for Palin, too.

Good to hear justice may prevail in Alaska after all. Begich deserves to win the election.

It is beyond comprehension how anyone could vote for a convicted felon for US Senate.

You know,certain states like to hold onto ballotts........ups..................................now stevens is not ahead.........................so, he can go to jail now??????????????????????.....7 Federal counts await.................

I can not wait to see what Georgia comes up with.................................................all those absantee ballotts........................right.

There goes Sara Palin's chances of senate leading to presidency. She was hoping Ted Stevens would win, then get disqualified, and she would win in bye-elections so that she may campaign for presidency 2012.

do people from alaska vet their leaders before putting them on ballot or anyone can just run?
Because I don't think palin was vetted and their senator too

I may be heading to alaska on Nov 27 2008!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Great now we don't have to look at Palin anymore. She is a sore eye to see on the news everyday.

Hooray! Please let him win. I get physically sick every day when Palin is once again interviewed and I am considering stopping watching all cable news soon if she doesn't prance back to Alaska and stay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think Alaska should succeed from the Union and have Sarah and Todd declared "Heir-apparent Farts," and then become a wasteland of ignorance, corruption and acid-induced, Christian, media coverage for perverted eskimos and deceased artic animals.

Bad news for Palin if Stevens is not reelected. There goes her chance to place herself in the national arena!
I am glad to see the goof people of Alaska do not want a convicted felon representing them.
At least not most of the people!

Stevens, yet another shining example of a Republican criminal deserves to go to jail.

He’s an old man. A 5 year sentence ought to do be enough for a life sentence.

There's something to be said about this whole thing. It's opened our eyes to how different Alaska is. It's like looking at a map and saying "something's not quite like the others."

YAY... we hope this means they can't get felon Stevens in so that he can give up his seat to Boob Palin.

egon, it's because absentee ballots don't get counted unless it's close like this.

There goes Palin Senate seat, looks like when all is said and done she's right back where she started. The people of Alaska must be one odd group of citizens. I cannot believe with what I've seen of Palin she's Gov. and were still counting ballots because a convicted felon is still in the race for the United States Senate. Alaska scares me.

Proud of Obama?... now willing to work with Obama?....
How can she work with a Terrorist, Socialist and a Lair?
She wa calling him all that just 10 days ago....
What has she to offer? Troopergate?
It´s a pity that she´ll do anything just to be in the news...
I honestly hope that the GOP has a better to offer...

These votes are absentee and provisional ballots from what I understand (yeah, vote early and get counted late.) whatever, go Begich! Do not leave any kind of door open for Sarah Palin to plow through!

Thank goodness. I was beginning to think Sarah Palin wasn't the only Alaskan who doesn't read the paper.

Absolutely good news, let the convicted felon go. Alaska does not need that kind of baggage.

Seems as if the folks of Alaska may not be that gullible, after all!

Are the people who live in Alaska that stupid to vote for a convicted candidate? Maybe the cold air has depressed their thought process. This whole situation is ludicrous.

Fascinating... people inject Sarah Palin's name into an article that isn't about her, so they can say how much they don't want to hear about her anymore... I'm not a doctor, but I've been told Klonopin is effective for obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Translation: Sarah Palin is losing her Senate spot! (She had plans for that spot!)

Why didn't Alaska count all the votes on election day? Each candidate got roughly 100,000 votes on election day and there were 90,000 votes not yet counted. Nearly of the third of the vote was not counted! It's outrageous. Palin, please reform your election day process there in the state that you are executive of, also even, too.

Thank goodness it appears providence will provide justice for the people of Alaska.

Since Stevens didn't do the right thing and step down after his recent verdict(s) I'm sure the citizens of Alaska will be pleased with a Senator who possesses a very different set of values than his predecessor.

If most of the uncounted votes are from the Anchorage area Begich is likely to win. Now if the Dems can win the recount in Minnesota and the run-off in Georgia we will finally have the opportunity for change this country desperately needs. Then we just need Obama to make the right choices and avoid the pitfalls someone like Pelosi would lead him into.

Thank the lord.... Let's hope they get this old crook out if office. I can't image that the good people of Alaska would not know that he was going to be going to jail soon. Bye uncle ted play nice with the other inmates.

Is every vote important? Yes, it is.

Go Mark, Go!

Help set a new tone for Alaskan politics.

What is going on in Alaska? Why did they wait a week after the election to count the remaining 90,000 votes? Didn't they already declare Stevens the victor? Alaska is corrupt. Something needs to be done about this.

why all the new ballots? I don't get it. how is it 90,000 votes were overlooked during the first count?

Can't believe someone would vote for a convicted felon, no matter what party he or she was in. Especially for corruption charges.

Lets hope this sends a message to other politicians that think it is ok to take a little off the top because "they earned it" or that is how business is done. It isn't and should not be tolerated no matter what party they are in.

A Begich win will let the Senate avoid addressing the expulsion of Stevens from the Senate, something they are proabably reluctant to do.

Come on Mark, you can do it too! Why you were in a tight race in the first place, speaks volumes about Alaskans!

GOOD! I can not BELIEVE that anyone would vote for a convicted felon! What are the people of Alaska thinking.........or not?!

Stevens has been convicted of 7...SEVEN...felony charges yet was allowed to continue running and even voted. This is an outrage!!!!

I have a son convicted of 1...ONE felony charge and he has lost his right to vote. How does Stevens have more rights?

Alaska are a bunch of fools if they do not raise a large red flag on their election process.

How can those ignorant people in Alaska vote for a convicted felon? Maybed they SHOULD secede from the Union. Clean out the USA gene pool by several IQ points.

Go Begich go. Get that Stevens crook out of there. Maybe Palin will be next to go. I am a Republican but she shows me nothing but an irrating voice that never quits.

Let's if Alaska prefers to vote known criminals who have been stealing money from the government for 20 so years in office over democrats.

Lets see if we can restore some sanity in the Senate by electing Begich.. Come on Alaskans, you can do it..

I cannot tell you how much I am looking forward to Begich winning this election.

What does it mean? It means Stevens goes away, it means that there's no special runoff election for Stevens' seat, so there's no chance that Palin will have a chance at the Senate, and maybe, just maybe, the woman will leave us all alone. She is an unmitigated disaster.

Well, a Stevens loss is a loss to the country as well, because we will never hear the phrase, "the Honarable Senator Palin from Alaska has the floor"

amen.

Oooohhhh, Palin's chance to catch the D.C. Senatorial train my be derailed..... (insert evil laugh). Seriously, I cannot believe that the Alaska vote is so close; Steven's is a convicted criminal. Of course this is the state that elected Smiling, winkin' Sarah as Gov. Big sigh.....

I'm glad to see that Alaskans are not as dumb as thier Govenor. I just cannot comprehend a guy who is a convicted felon, recently I might add, who is awaiting his jail sentence, get re-elected as a Senator uh wait, they did elect Sarah Palin as Govenor so I guess anything is possible. By the way, did Obama win Alaska? After Obama got to something like 368, I stop hearing about the rest of the countries electorial votes.

Finally some good news out of Alaska

Come on, 58!

And a convicted felon is allowed to run for public office because.....?

I guess that makes 814 smarter than the other 50%

We would like to send Palin back to you all, from Florida.

Can you put something in her moose chili... like anti-freeze?

Let's hope that he will continue to fall behind because the last thing we need is to see more of Sarah Palin. She went from not talking to the media to being on there everyday talking two and three times a day. Enough

To see Stevens, a convicted felon, win, would be a grave miscarriage of justice. It doesn't say much for the state of Alaska to elect this man after the blatant misuse of power and corruption. But, then again, look who the governor of the state is. That says that Alaska will elect anybody.

Yes America, there is a Santa Claus. His sled is delivering Democratic votes to Alaska. Next, his sled will be taking Ted Stevens to Federal Prison!

Tell me when the vote count is over and Stevens loses his reelection bid. That will save the Senate time of booting him out. I can't believe that Alaskans are that selfish to keep someone who has been convicted serving the state; he does bring home the pork. I guess that is the biggest reason; other could be that there hasn't been anyone else in the past 40 years.

That is great news! I don't hate all Republicans, some I even like, but Ted Stevens represents everything that is wrong with American politics.

Among other things, he has been the water boy for the oil industry since I was a small child, and one of the most over-the-top anti-environmental crusaders in Congress. To Stevens, anybody who displays an interest in preserving the health of our planet is probably a secret Communist in disguise.

Go Begich!

Keep them coming...Time to see the light!