Re: Minnesota Recount

Ann Coulter asks, "What is the point of having a hand recount of ballots in the Minnesota Senate race if the Democratic secretary of state is going to use the election night totals in precincts where it will benefit Democrat Al Franken?" Read more at Human Events Read More......

Indicted Rep. Jefferson Loses Louisiana Seat

CBS News - (AP) Voters in Louisiana ousted indicted Democratic Rep. William Jefferson [D] on Saturday, instead electing a Republican attorney who will be the first Vietnamese-American in Congress. Unofficial results showed Anh "Joseph" Cao denying Jefferson a 10th term. Republicans made an aggressive push to take the seat from the 61-year-old incumbent, who has pleaded not guilty to charges of bribery, laundering money and misusing his congressional office. Cao, 41, won a predominantly black and heavily Democratic district that covers most of New Orleans. Read more at CBS News...

Note: The election was one of two [both Republican victories] in Louisiana postponed because of Hurricane Gustav. Read More......

U.S. Senate Races & a Filibuster-Proof Senate

Michael Barone of U.S. News & World Report, writes,

Currently there are 51 Democrats in the U.S. Senate, including Joe Lieberman, but Democrats are seriously contesting 11 Republican-held seats and there is a by-no-means trivial chance that they could win each one. Meanwhile, Republicans are seriously contesting either zero Democrat-held seats, or only one, that of Mary Landrieu of Louisiana.

Races to watch (leader of recent polls shown first):
Louisiana: Mary Landrieu (D) vs. John Kennedy (D-turned-R)
Virginia: Mark Warner (D) vs. Jim Gilmore (R)
Mew Mexico: Tom Udall (D) vs. Steve Pearce (R)
Colorado: Mark Udall (D) vs. Bob Schaffer (R)
New Hampshire: Jeanne Shaheen (D) vs. John Sununu (R)
Alaska: Mark Begich (D) vs. Sen. Ted Stevens (R-incumbent, recently convicted on 7 counts of failing to report gifts)
Mississippi: Roger Wicker (D – recently appointed to succeed Trent Lott) vs. former Gov. Ronnie Musgrove (R)
Oregon: Jeff Merkley (D) vs. Sen. Gordon Smith (R)
North Carolina: Kay Hagan (D) vs. Elizabeth Dole (R)
Georgia: Saxby Chambliss (R) vs. Jim Martin (D)
Minnesota: Norm Coleman (R) vs. Al Franken (D)
Kentucky: Mitch McConnell (R - Senate Minority Leader) vs. Bruce Lunsford (D)

Barone continues,

What’s my bottom line? If I had to be $1,000 on each of these races, I would bet on Smith and Dole to lose, and Coleman, Chambliss, and McConnell to win. That, assuming Sununu doesn’t somehow pull it out, would leave the Democrats with 58 seats. (But I could easily be wrong on any or all of these races, and I reserve the right to change my prediction before Tuesday.) Fifty-eight Democrats would be enough to stop filibusters if they can get a couple of Republicans (and not drop any Democrats) on an issue, but not enough to run the table.

It's a little scary to think that major differences in public policy can be settled by the outcomes in just a few close Senate races. But then, major differences in public policy were settled by George W. Bush's paper-thin victory in 2000. Our representative democracy gives both parties huge incentives to squeeze just a few more votes out, because they can make a huge difference in the long run.

Read More......

IBD Poll: McCain Tied with Obama!

The latest IBD/TIPP poll has been released today - and it has John McCain statistically tied with Barack Obama! And Neal Cavuto has just reported that the PEW poll has McCain ahead by 1% among likely voters! This comes on the heels of yesterday's Zogby one-day tracking poll which had McCain ahead of Obama by 1%. This race is extraordinarily close, with a large number of undecided voters that will likely break for McCain.

(Hat tip: Our Country Deserves Better)

Newsmax adds: The IBD/TIPP poll also shows that almost 9% of voters remain unsure.

"We believe this is incredible news."

Read More......

Zogby Shocker: McCain Leads Obama In Latest Poll

Dick Morris tells Newsmax that Friday night's polling for Zogby of 1000 likely voters shows a huge shift for John McCain. Zogby's poll, conducted on Friday night only, has McCain at 48% and Obama at 47%. Zogby's overall poll has Obama with a lead — but that's based on a three-day average that includes Wednesday and Thursday polling data. "There is a seismic shift for McCain; it could turn into an earthquake this weekend," Dick Morris told Newsmax. "I think a large [part] of the credit goes to GOPTrust.com for it's courageous use of the Rev. Wright ad and the many tens of thousands who have donated almost $9 million before election day," Dick Morris added. Read More......

IT’S NOW TOO LATE TO MAIL YOUR BALLOT

You can still vote by dropping your ballot off at one of the following locations by Tuesday, Nov. 4th at 8:00PM:
Corvallis:
Fifth Street – Box across from the Courthouse (24hrs)
Wells Fargo Bank – In the Timberhill Shopping Center (24hrs)
Lincoln Health Center – In parking lot at 121 SE Viewmont (24hrs)
Benton County Courthouse – Main Entrance & Basement, Rm. 13
City Limits Market – 99W & Lewisburg Road
Corvallis Public Library
OSU Valley Library
LBCC Benton Center – 757 NW Polk Ave
Senior Citizens Center – 2601 NW Tyler Ave
North Albany: Ray’s Food Place – North Albany Shopping Center (24hrs)
Philomath: Philomath Public Library
Alsea: John Boy’s Alsea Mercantile Store
Monroe: Monroe City Hall

Have a question? Need a ride? Want us to pick up your ballot? Call Benton County Republicans at (541) 754-9155 Read More......