It so happens that...

The U.S. Senate race of Ted Stevens Mark Begich and the final tally-ho begins in earnest tomorrow, as 90,000 uncounted ballots weigh in: Some 9,500 early votes, 61,000 absentee ballots, and 20,000 questioned ballots.

1. Conventional political wisdom would dictate that the early voting would swing to Begich, since Obama's campaign was adamant that a strong early Obama vote would stymie expected, if localized, Republican attempts to suppress Democratic voters. Therefore, Begich should benefit.
2. The same wisdom dictates that the absentee vote would go to Stevens, as older, wealthier Republicans who could afford to leave the Alaskan winter behind would naturally vote for the senatorial institution that is Ted Steven (R) of Alaska.
3. Nobody really knows what will happen to the questioned ballots. Will most of them count? Will the surviving votes go to Mark Begich, or Ted Stevens?

Since the balance of power in the U.S.Senate depends in part on this election (whether Ted later resigns over his felony convictions or not) the next few days are not unimportant to the nation. Let's wait and see.