A Senate Republican colleague of Ted Stevens (R-AK) says the votes are there to force him out of the party. But before taking that step, the caucus will wait and see if early-voting, late-to-be-counted Alaska voters have done the job for them at the ballot box. After emerging with a lead back on Election Day, Stevens has fallen behind challenger Mark Begich (D-AK) as other ballots have been counted. And Stevens’ own pollster says he has no chance to regain the lead. Begich turned a 3K deficit 11/4 into an 800, then a 1K vote lead, and his home turf in Anchorage is among the uncounted districts.
Senator Jim DeMint (R-SC) is leading the effort to clean the skeletons out of the collective Republican closet. “After talking with many of my colleagues, it’s clear there are sufficient votes to pass the resolution regarding Senator Stevens," he said. "The question now is timing. Some who support the resolution believe we should address this after the results of his election are confirmed in Alaska."
RBR/TVBR observation: With Commerce Committee chair Daniel Inouye (D-HI) apparently headed for Appropriations and with Stevens’ prospects getting bleaker every day, we’re in for a new-look Commerce Committee for the 111th Congress. So there will be a wildcard in the White House, leading to another wildcard at the FCC, and the Commerce Committee will make it a triple-play.
