Rightfully yours

Ed.Note: This is an update on Update on: Replacing a Senator.

As the results of the 2008 elections solidify into historical facts, a big news item is the 60-seat majority the Democrats are seeking in the Senate. Currently, the score of the 100-seat council is:
· Democrats 58
· Republicans 40
· Undecided 2.

Since Senator Ted Stevens lost his bid for reelection in Alaska to Anchorage Democratic mayor Mark Begich in the close race that was like the Kentucky Derby of politics, there are only two races left.

Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman is now back in the arms of the Democratic caucus, after President-elect Barack Obama spoke privately to Senate Majority Leader, Democrat Harry Reid about Senator Lieberman. Senator Reid’s tone had been chilly when discussing Senator Lieberman, and had talked about stripping him of his committee assignments.

Tuesday, December 2, Georgia incumbent Republican Senator Saxby Chambliss challenger Democrat Jim Martin will find out who is the Senator from this state in a runoff election, and whether the Democrats will get another seat toward their goal of 60, or be stopped short.

Both candidates fell a hair short short of winning the 50 percent of the vote required for election under Georgia law. Senator Chambliss led Martin on Election Day by 109,671 votes.

Historically, Georgia runoff elections draw significantly lower turnout than the general election, perhaps due to the holiday timing. About 30 percent of the statewide vote in Georgia was from African-Americans who voted 98 percent for Obama, and 93 percent for Martin. In early voting so far, African-American turnout was minimal.

Democrats know they must re-create the excitement felt during the Presidential campaign, but that will be difficult, since Obama has not campaigned in Georgia since the election, and former President Bill Clinton made a token appearance on November 19.

Opinions from Georgia voters are that they will vote against the Democrats on the grounds that a supermajority of 60 seats will give the Democrats too much power, andthere needs to be some checks in place.

Alaska governor Sarah Palin, now the country’s foremost conservative crowd-pleaser will attend four rallies across the state on Monday, the day before the election.

Allen Buckley of the Libertarian Party is not a part of the runoff. Buckley took 3.4% of the electorate on November 4.

After the election December 2, I think the score will be:
· Democrats 58
· Republicans 41
· Undecided 1.