Franken Takes (65 Vote) Lead in Minn; Georgia Vote Totals Too Low - May Not Include Early Voting Totals; More

Update (11/05/08, 10:45 a.m. PST): In Minnesota, Norm Coleman (R, Inc.) leads Al Franken (D) by 694 votes with all precincts in, per NBC. Election not called pending provisional ballots, possible recount.

Oregon U.S. Senate: Many votes still not counted, particularly in Portland area, which is running heavily for Merkley (D) over Smith (R, Inc.) Currently, Smith is sitting on a 9,000 vote lead. We expect a narrow win for Merkley when all votes have been counted.

Georgia U.S. Senate race appears headed for a run-off; incumbent Saxby Chambliss (R) currently stands at 49.9% of the vote, needed 50% +1 to avoid runoff with Jim Martin (D), who garnered 46.7%. After heavy early voting, election day voting was light, and overall turnout evidently was lower than in the 2004 presidential election.


**end update**


Al Franken pulls ahead in the senate race in Minnesota - by 65 votes - out of over 2,500,000 votes cast in the race.

Indiana called for Obama. 99% of precincts reporting, Obama has a 23,000 vote lead out of more than 2,600,000 votes cast.

North Carolina still too close to call, despite 100% of precincts having reported. Obama leads NC by 12,000 votes out of over 4,000,000 cast. Provisional ballots may change the results.

Georgia vote totals are very low, may not have included early voting in the total numbers released -- which may result in a run-off for U.S. Senate.

Nebraska allocates electoral votes by congressional district; second district (Omaha) too close to call.

From FiveThirtyEight.Com:

If Franken holds on, if Jeff Merkley in Oregon can win (Multnomah is the big Portland Democratic engine and is largely outstanding)[ed note: as is Lane County, home to Eugene, OR], then it is increasingly likely that the Dems will converge on Georgia for the next four weeks to try to win the 60th Senate seat.

More political fun to come.