MyDD :: Associated Press Calls VA-SEN for Jim Webb, US Senate for the Democrats

Associated Press Calls VA-SEN for Jim Webb, US Senate for the Democrats

by Jonathan Singer, Wed Nov 08, 2006 at 08:33:56 PM EST

According to the Associated Press (via Countdown with Keith Olbermann) we will have a Democratic Senate in the 110th Congress with Jim Webb serving as Virginia's Junior Senator. Big news. Big news. (Will have more as it comes in...)

Update [2006-11-8 20:37:22 by Jonathan Singer]: Again, according to the AP (via Olbermann), the George Allen campaign is planning on making a speech -- perhaps a concession speech -- tomorrow evening. Still looking for a link...

Update [2006-11-8 20:40:38 by Jonathan Singer]: The AP's Liz Sidoti and Bob Lewis have the big scoop.

Democrats wrested control of the Senate from Republicans Wednesday with an upset victory in Virginia, giving the party complete domination of Capitol Hill for the first time since 1994.
Jim Webb's squeaker win over incumbent Sen. George Allen gave Democrats their 51st seat in the Senate, an astonishing turnabout at the hands of voters unhappy with Republican scandal and unabated violence in Iraq. Allen was the sixth Republican incumbent senator defeated in Tuesday's elections.
[...]
The Associated Press contacted election officials in all 134 localities where voting occurred, obtaining updated numbers Wednesday. About half the localities said they had completed their postelection canvassing and nearly all had counted outstanding absentees. Most were expected to be finished by Friday.
The new AP count showed Webb with 1,172,538 votes and Allen with 1,165,302, a difference of 7,236. Virginia has had two statewide vote recounts in modern history, but both resulted in vote changes of no more than a few hundred votes.
An adviser to Allen, speaking on condition of anonymity because his boss had not formally decided to end the campaign, said the senator wanted to wait until most of canvassing was completed before announcing his decision, possibly as early as Thursday evening.
The adviser said that Allen was disinclined to request a recount if the final vote spread was similar to that of election night.

Update [2006-11-8 20:43:50 by Jonathan Singer]: NBC News concurs...

Tags: Senate 2006, VA-Sen (all tags)

Permalink :: 32 Comments :: Post a Comment

Re: Associated Press Calls Virginia Senate for Jim (none / 0)

Freakin' sweet.

by PsiFighter37 on Wed Nov 08, 2006 at 08:36:36 PM EST

Re: Associated Press Calls Virginia Senate for Jim (none / 0)

YES!

by Bobby McGee on Wed Nov 08, 2006 at 08:38:27 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Senate for Jim Webb (3.00 / 1)

And now, let us do unto others as they have done unto us.

by global yokel on Wed Nov 08, 2006 at 08:39:48 PM EST

No (3.00 / 1)

It's time to end the violence.

People elected us to govern.

Le'ts not make the same mistakes that the republican Revolution did in 1994. We can restore faith in our government--a progressive government.

Thanks,

Mike

by lordmikethegreat on Wed Nov 08, 2006 at 08:54:05 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: No (none / 0)

Agreed, continuing to do what they did means we could lose the majority in just a couple of years. I'd rather they set up something sustainable for the next 40+ years.

end the occupation of Iraq

by aip on Wed Nov 08, 2006 at 09:01:12 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: No (none / 0)

isn't the whole point, that government shouldn't be so wierd. we have definitely moved on!

I think those that have been elected, represent a really great cross section of americans that really want to work for change. boy will the dems be in trouble in 08 if that change isn't delivered. this kind of election sweep means that people are watching.

I really think that 40 years from now the internet will have transformed politics and america will be a beacon of democracy in the world, through precisely the democratic party - because the party will listen to its constituency using the net, and it will behave and act knowing the net is a huge source of not only campaign funding but also - in a world of paid robocalls and ineffective TV advertising, real honest good GOTV and Votes!

Think about how unassailable Sen. Feingold is! The net-roots dig this guy!

.. and when I win the lottery, gonna donate half my money to the city so they have to name a school or a park after me - camper van beethoven

by heyAnita on Wed Nov 08, 2006 at 10:58:31 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Associated Press Calls Virginia Senate for Jim (none / 0)

Remember, though, that that 51 is counting Lieberman as a Dem, which isn't a given.

On the other hand, I heard a rumor today that a Republican Senator may be switching parties. Not sure who or if there's any substance to it, but that would be great.

by Tom on Wed Nov 08, 2006 at 08:42:18 PM EST

Re: Associated Press Calls Virginia Senate for Jim (none / 0)

Whatever Lieberprick does dems still have majority status. I bet Snowe would be the defector.

by buckfush on Wed Nov 08, 2006 at 08:48:38 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Associated Press Calls Virginia Senate for Jim (none / 0)

Snowe's husband is the last GOP governor of Maine. There is zero chance of her switching. There is a minuscule, minute, microscopic chance of her pulling a Jeffords, but no more than that.

by Davis X Machina on Wed Nov 08, 2006 at 09:54:42 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Maybe Chafee will... (none / 0)

Oh, that's right, he's not a senator anymore! Beating six incumbents in cycle is an amazing accomplishment. When is the last time that happened?!

Jim Oberweis

by cilerder86 on Wed Nov 08, 2006 at 08:55:30 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Could be Norm Coleman again. (3.00 / 1)

He switched teams once before. He's a total political opportunist, and I'm sure that with the prospect of A) having to be in the minority party and B) having to run as a Republican in '08 after seeing Kennedy get crushed, that the thought has probably at least crossed his mind.

by tjekanefir on Wed Nov 08, 2006 at 09:37:00 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Could be Norm Coleman again. (none / 0)

Not gonna happen. Norm, as they say, has made his choice.

Plus with the Republican convention coming to the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul in 2008 (a publicly subsidized building that Norm pushed hard for when he was Mayor of St. Paul), he still has his 15 minutes of national/int'l fame coming.

by gregabbott on Wed Nov 08, 2006 at 09:58:15 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Associated Press Calls Virginia Senate for Jim (none / 0)

You bet it's not a given.

by Baltimore on Thu Nov 09, 2006 at 09:38:14 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Associated Press Calls VA-SEN for Jim Webb, US (3.00 / 1)

YEAH BABY.

Tom,
If Lieberman decides to go to the Republicans he will get voted out next time.

by druidbros on Wed Nov 08, 2006 at 08:45:08 PM EST

Re:This forces the test of Lieberman's word (3.00 / 1)

Joe is now senator # 51. I worry that if he actually caucuses with the Democrats, that he will extract too high a price. I would rather see him go to the other side than let him spread neocon influence under the name of the Democratic Party. We must continue to shape our party as a fresh alternative. Not a mush of compromise, impossible to distinguish from the Repugs.

by Fridley on Wed Nov 08, 2006 at 08:45:58 PM EST

I hate to say it (none / 0)

until a Republican switches we Joe to protect the SCOTUS.

Gandhi - "First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win."

by HCLiberal on Wed Nov 08, 2006 at 09:13:40 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: I hate to say it (3.00 / 0)

Amen.

I bow to no one when it comes to LieberLoathing, but there's a few things that are just too important, and control of the Senate committees is one of them. So, Lieberman will be a prick. Oh, well. It's only another two years until we take CO, MN, and VA Senate seats ... then he won't matter so much.

by BriVT on Wed Nov 08, 2006 at 09:36:20 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: I hate to say it (none / 0)

Come on fellows lieberman is not such a bad fellow. He's sponsored intelligence reform , he actually read the 911 commission report.

I think the fact that the party sent out the cable guy to his own home district and short circuited his primary , got his attention, didn't you?

A lifelong democrat, that has been an independent for 2 months. I think Joe is not exactly thrilled to be remembered as a bush republican.

.. and when I win the lottery, gonna donate half my money to the city so they have to name a school or a park after me - camper van beethoven

by heyAnita on Wed Nov 08, 2006 at 11:01:23 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re:This forces the test of Lieberman's word (none / 0)

He has gone to the other side in everything but label. He was the Republican candidate. How much money and media did he get from them? He'll owe them.

by Baltimore on Thu Nov 09, 2006 at 09:42:18 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Associated Press Calls VA-SEN for Jim Webb, US (3.00 / 1)

Beautiful news. Beautiful day.

It's worth noting, by the way, the class with which most Republicans have reacted to these election results.

"Another problem we have...is that in election years we behave somewhat as primitive peoples do at the time of the full moon." --Harry Truman

by Steve M on Wed Nov 08, 2006 at 08:47:35 PM EST

Welcome to Purple Status, Virginia! (none / 0)

Will Mark Warner run for the other Senate spot in 2008 if John Warner retires?

by danielj on Wed Nov 08, 2006 at 08:53:33 PM EST

doubtful (none / 0)

it's more likely that he'll run for Governor again in 2009.

by johnny longtorso on Wed Nov 08, 2006 at 09:43:24 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Welcome to Purple Status, Virginia! (3.00 / 1)

I don't know, but I think it is highly probable. Mark would be a shoe in, if John Warner retired. Mark could run and still be very close to his family. I am sure we won't be the only ones urging Mark to run if John Warner retires.

John McCain: Bush right to veto kids health insurance expansion

by Calvin Jones and the 13th Apostle on Wed Nov 08, 2006 at 09:45:29 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Jim Webb, US Senate for the Democrats (3.00 / 1)

If Lieberman does anything fishy, there will be a recall effort to throw his ass out of the Senate. The infrastrcture already exists within the state to mount a kickass campaign.

by global yokel on Wed Nov 08, 2006 at 08:57:41 PM EST

Re: Jim Webb, US Senate for the Democrats (none / 0)

Is that really true?

by Baltimore on Thu Nov 09, 2006 at 09:44:00 AM EST
[ Parent ]

How will the netroots help the governing majority? (none / 0)

I had hoped we'd take the House, but taking the Senate is such a wonderful treat! I've had a smile on my face all day.

The next two years will be telling. Hopefully, the netroots can apply the same effort as part of a governing majority as they did while an opposition party. If we succeed (measured with a rise in the congressional approval rate), we can be assured of a long stay in power.

How should the structure of the netroots change to be most effective in this new capacity? Should we have votes, MoveOn style, to figure out which issues should be tackled next? The resuls of the "Energize America" collaborative document weren't that great, in my mind.

end the occupation of Iraq

by aip on Wed Nov 08, 2006 at 09:13:05 PM EST

Re: Associated Press Calls VA-SEN for Jim Webb, US (none / 0)

and they said it couldn't be done....

by vwcat on Wed Nov 08, 2006 at 09:19:40 PM EST

Re: Associated Press Calls VA-SEN for Jim Webb, US (none / 0)

Yes we did. As soon as I knew that Jarding and "Mudcat" Saunders were running Webb's campaign, that is when I knew that Webb would win, and that was before the macaca moment.

John McCain: Bush right to veto kids health insurance expansion

by Calvin Jones and the 13th Apostle on Wed Nov 08, 2006 at 09:46:54 PM EST
[ Parent ]

all I have to say is... (3.00 / 2)

welcome to the real world of Virginia, Mr. Allen.

by johnny longtorso on Wed Nov 08, 2006 at 09:42:42 PM EST

Allen will likely concede tomorrow (none / 0)

The senate is for gentlemen. VA has a very accurate vote counting mechanism (wish florida had as nice of a system)

The Canvass will be in, tomorrow, and then Allen will make a speech.

This is what Government is really all about. If it were a great cricket match victory today with crowds cheering in the streets I would be leery.

Somewhere, a secretary of state is ignoring the parties and trying their best to get the correct number. Thats what we pay them to do!

Then, it will be up to the still-possible presidential candidate. Everyone knows he wants to run, anyway. He can just get started on his candidacy for 08

I guess for me whats most exciting is just seeing our government all getting back to heads down work again. What a big fat paid vacation everyone has had for the last 5 years.

.. and when I win the lottery, gonna donate half my money to the city so they have to name a school or a park after me - camper van beethoven

by heyAnita on Wed Nov 08, 2006 at 11:05:19 PM EST

Re: Allen will likely concede tomorrow (none / 0)

I wouldn't say VA has a very accurate vote counting mechanism, so much as a very reproduceable vote totaling mechanism.

It helps when you don't/can't actually go back and analyze ballots, but rather rely on the same figures the second time around...

You don't really want VA's mechanism. You just want FL's mechanisms to be run as smoothly as VA's automatically are...

by Phoenix Rising on Wed Nov 08, 2006 at 11:40:24 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Allen will likely concede tomorrow (none / 0)

Somewhere, a secretary of state is ignoring the parties and trying their best to get the correct number. Thats what we pay them to do!

The Washington Post has an article on Webb's likely win, and there's a great quote from the chief election official in one locality that corrected its vote tally for Webb. Basically, the guy said, "That was me. I was tired, and I wrote the wrong thing down."

You gotta love candor and responsibility.

by deminva on Thu Nov 09, 2006 at 09:52:33 AM EST
[ Parent ]

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