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Stevens slips in vote count

Posted by Scott Helman, Political Reporter November 13, 2008 02:38 PM

stevens111208.jpg
(Johnny Wagner/Getty Images)

Republican Senator Ted Stevens of Alaska, who was convicted in federal court last month of failing to report gifts from a political supporter, has slipped behind Democratic challenger Mark Begich in their tight Senate race, as state elections officials continue counting absentee ballots from last week's election.

As of today, Begich, the mayor of Anchorage, had 132,196 votes to Stevens's 131,382, a lead of 814, according to the state elections division. Stevens led by more than 3,000 votes before elections officials began counting the roughly 90,000 absentee ballots cast in the race. State officials counted about 50,000 ballots yesterday and may finish counting the remaining 40,000 tomorrow, Bloomberg reported.

The race, one of three hard-fought Senate contests yet to be determined, is crucial to the Democrats' efforts to reach 60 Senate seats, a number that would allow the party to thwart Republican filibuster attempts on legislation. In Georgia, Republican Senator Saxby Chambliss will face a run-off vote on Dec. 2 against Democratic challenger Jim Martin. And there's a recount in the race in Minnesota between Republican incumbent Norm Coleman and Democrat Al Franken; Coleman now holds a narrow lead.

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buh bye Stevens.
I look forward to the new name for the Anchorge Airport....unless Anchorage is keen to keep its airport named after a convicted felon.

Posted by Jeff November 13, 08 03:52 PM
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Why would anyone reelect a convicted felon? Does any one wonder why the Republicans did so poorly this year? Time for old crooks to leave and make way for younger crooks! OK , that was a little harsh. I will reserve judgment until they are caught so let's have much more oversight. Yes?

Posted by Santa Fean November 13, 08 03:59 PM
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Do you have a proofreader?
"...Begich, the mayor of Anchorage, had 132,196 votes to Stevens's 131,382, a lead of 814..."
That statement indicates Begich is behind when I do the math.

Posted by DD November 13, 08 04:00 PM
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Same reason you socialistic dems reelected Marion Barry(DC), Rep Jefferson from Louisiana and numerous others.

Posted by EW November 13, 08 04:18 PM
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132,196 > 131,382. If you get another result when you do the math, then your calculator is faulty, and it's not the author of the article that needs a proofreader....

Posted by Karl November 13, 08 04:19 PM
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I do hope Stevens gets out of there. The only series of tubes that are being clogged with junk are his intestines.

Posted by DasPapst November 13, 08 04:19 PM
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@DD: *ahem* Look again. Unless you have some crazy inverse math system I've never heard of.

Posted by Jeremy November 13, 08 04:20 PM
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I would say they *do* have a proofreader.....

Posted by Eric November 13, 08 04:23 PM
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DD you are NOT smarter than a fifth grader!

Posted by Trinity November 13, 08 04:23 PM
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@ DD
Uh, look again

Posted by try again November 13, 08 04:24 PM
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132,196 - 131,382 = 814, DD. Story has it right. Sorry to have to be the one to tell ya...

Posted by Shug November 13, 08 04:24 PM
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I double-checked the math, DD...take another look at the numbers: Begich has 132,196 votes, while Stevens has 131,382. When I do the math, 132xxx > 131xxx.

Posted by Eric Tooley November 13, 08 04:26 PM
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LOL, DD, you need to go back to school and retake math!
132,196 > 131,382

Posted by 132isgreaterthan131 November 13, 08 04:27 PM
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what math are you using? I just did a quick calculation and they would be correct.

Posted by Ana November 13, 08 04:27 PM
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Um, DD I think you need a calculator

Posted by Pete November 13, 08 04:27 PM
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Interesting math, DD

Posted by KL November 13, 08 04:28 PM
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'"...Begich, the mayor of Anchorage, had 132,196 votes to Stevens's 131,382, a lead of 814..."
That statement indicates Begich is behind when I do the math.'

No, DD, YOU do the math. 132196-131382=814

Posted by Proofreader (self-proclaimed) November 13, 08 04:28 PM
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Then you'd better do the math again, DD. The statement is correct.

Posted by Karen November 13, 08 04:29 PM
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DD, your math is wrong, try typing it into a calculator or count toothpicks if you don't believe it.

Posted by ? November 13, 08 04:29 PM
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DD, check your own math before criticizing others. 132,196 is indeed more than 131,382.

Posted by TJnTN November 13, 08 04:29 PM
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@DD

Where did you learn math?

Posted by 808287 November 13, 08 04:30 PM
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132196 - 131382 = 814

Posted by AK November 13, 08 04:31 PM
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Begich - 132,196
Stevens - 131,382
132,196 - 131,382 = 814
Nope... looks to me like Begich is ahead.

Posted by JW November 13, 08 04:33 PM
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The math is accurate: Begich has 132,196. Stevens has 131,382. (One hundred thirty-two is bigger than one hundred thirty-one.)

Posted by Diane November 13, 08 04:34 PM
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#3 Better do the math again. Must have gone to school in Wasilla -

Posted by Robert Haynam November 13, 08 04:34 PM
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132,196 Begich
- 131,382 felon
_________
814

Posted by Jay Garth November 13, 08 04:34 PM
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Some republicans seem extrememly angry at losing the election. Voting for a convicted felon surfaces as the "get back" attitude displayed throughout the McCain/Palin campaign. Stevens is losing this election and has lost his sense of right and wrong a while back. The lack of sophistication amongst this group, the lack of common sense, the name calling, resorting to childish ways of dealing with an opponent and the lack of true and honest self evaluation amazes me but does not surprise me, coming from unsophisticated, regressive
population..

Posted by dagnola November 13, 08 04:34 PM
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Maybe you're doing the "new" math! Here's the proper math equation:
132,196 - 131,382 = 814. Duhhhhh!

Posted by Tom November 13, 08 04:35 PM
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DD - Do you have a calculator? If not, 132,196 is a larger number than 131,382.

Posted by karen November 13, 08 04:35 PM
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DD needs to improve his math. 132,196 is a higher number than 131,382.

The real question for Alaskan voters is whether they will grow up and start voting for senators and representatives that do what is best for the country, and not justconcentrate on bring pork back to Alaska as their highest priority. Both Stevens and Don Long have concentrated too much on pork spending for Alaska. Don Long, as well as Stevens, is under an ethics cloud. Don Long should also be replaced.

Posted by Rod Gerwe November 13, 08 04:35 PM
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go back to school, fool...

Posted by dizzy November 13, 08 04:36 PM
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DD,
Please re-read this statement and re-do your math.

Posted by Heather November 13, 08 04:36 PM
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132,196(one hundred thirty TWO THOUSAND, one hundred ninety six) to 131,382(one hundred thirty ONE THOUSAND, three hundred eighty two). No proofing necessary.

Posted by Brian November 13, 08 04:37 PM
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DD - well, I think you know the math is right, so I take it your comment about the proof reader was about the sentence structure. Sorry, good fellow, that's correct as well. Thank you for being willing to expose us to your, uh, critique. It is pointed, pungent, and irrelevant. Did you work for the McCain Palin team?

good luck

patriot nonact

Posted by pajesseson November 13, 08 04:39 PM
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In regards to comment 3:
132196 - 131382 = 814. U kan uz ur kalkulator or ur computr to do maf. (Or ask a 3rd grader to do it for you)
DD, perhaps it's time to enroll in remedial arithmetic? Glad you're not doing the recount....oh wait, were you in Florida in 2000 counting votes for Bush? That explains something.

Posted by RM November 13, 08 04:40 PM
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DD counts votes for the republicans

Posted by Greg November 13, 08 04:41 PM
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DD:
You seem to have a blind spot for thousands. You're comparing 196 to 382 and missing that 132,000 is greater than 131,000 (132 > 131).

Let's not be so harsh though. Not everyone is used to seeing numbers written old-style with half-heights and descenders (font-family: georgia).

Posted by HTH November 13, 08 04:42 PM
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DD it's 132 to 131 I think you didn't see the 2. Don't look at the last three digits of both numbers. Either that or you must have voted for Palin.

Posted by A. Powers November 13, 08 04:48 PM
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lol people.. notice that he mistakenly read it as 131,196 instead of 132,196.. (as per his post) his math skills are probably ok, but he may need some glasses

Posted by lol November 13, 08 05:46 PM
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I am still wondering why anyone would vote for a convicted felon, especially someone on the Federal level. Instead of voting for him, for what are actual felony reasons, they should be calling for his resignation. There is just something twisted and psychotic behind a voter's mentality when they choose to impeach a president for a single count of perjury (Clinton), ignore the lies and corruption under an administration that has led to a pre-emptive strike against another nation (Bush), and has allowed a tainted official to run again for his Senate seat. I can only hope that the Democratic President Elect has his head on straighter than most Republican voters, and his priorities set to make sure such crap never happens again. I think, however, that we've not progressed to the point where most voters in this country can vote or think logically or critically about politics--they have short memories and little enough knowledge of their own history to do the right thing.

At least this particular election we didn't have a dimwit running for the presidency--that role was thankfully relegated to the Republican nominee's running mate.

Posted by Hyphenate November 13, 08 10:35 PM
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With republican math anything is possible..,clap your hands and just believe!!

Posted by john in anchorage November 14, 08 06:57 PM
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