Ted Stevens Loses Senate Race

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - It's been a less-than-happy 85th
birthday for Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens, recently convicted of federal
corruption charges.
The longest-serving Republican in Senate history narrowly lost
his re-election bid Tuesday. Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich's victory
moves Senate Democrats within two seats of a filibuster-proof
60-vote majority.
Tuesday's tally of just over 24,000 absentee and other ballots
gives Begich 150,728, or 47.76 percent, to 147,004, or 46.58
percent, for Stevens.
There are about 2,500 overseas ballots yet to be counted.
A recount is possible. If the vote differential between the two
candidates is more than 0.5 percent, either side can seek a recount
if it posts a bond of about $15,000 to pay for a new tally.