Too Close to Call

Measures 1-3 will all pass with little opposition. Thelma Drake and Virgil Goode, big targets of the Democrats here in Virginia, will each retain their seats. However, just past midnight on November 8th, the Senate race is still too close to call. With 20 precincts left (0.82% of the total precincts), George Allen leads by the slimmest of margins, 1,141,753 (49.44% of the vote) to 1,139,885 (49.36%). The remaining votes went to Gail Parker and write-ins (one must note that Gail Parker's votes would clearly give James Webb the lead if he instead had them; whom did she hurt more by her campaign?). What follows will no doubt be a recount (hopefully only one this time, regardless of who is winning after it) and possibly the difference between a Republican or Democrat controlled Senate. Unfortunately, I cannot follow it anymore tonight, but I imagine as close as it is, we will all be following it for at least a little while longer.

Even with a win though, tonight will be bittersweet. Democrats will hold a clear majority in the House, and the Senate majority will be as small as possible, meaning that President Bush truly is a lame duck now and it will be very difficult for anything to happen; if a Supreme Court justice passes away, for example, it seems highly unlikely any candidate would pass, even one that was aimed towards the Senate as a "moderate" judge.

So, Democrats will gain some power (at least) of the legislature. I say if they really want that power, they should take all the responsibility for anything going on right now. It would be nice to instead blame a Democratic Congress for current problems in Iraq.