Begich Pushes Lead Over Stevens to 1,022

In the Alaska senatorial race, Democrat Mark Begich has stretched his lead over GOP stalwart (and convicted felon) Ted Stevens to 1,022, with over 90% of votes counted, the Anchorage Daily News reports. Some 24,000 ballots remain to be tallied, but yesterday’s results, from typically pro-Stevens areas, were seen as the senator’s best hope to close the gap. The remaining votes will be counted Tuesday.

Stevens’ campaign has been mum as votes are tallied; Begich’s team, meanwhile, is bracing for what it sees as an inevitable recount in December. Though recent recounts have registered little change in Alaska, the campaign has asked supporters for donations “to prepare for an onslaught of Republican lawyers” in the process. If Stevens rallies, he’d be the first senator ever elected pending sentencing on a felony conviction.
(More Alaska stories.)