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Convicted Stevens holds slim lead in US Senate race

(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-11-07 10:25

WASHINGTON -- The fate of a convicted felon will help determine the size of the Democrats' expanded power in the US Senate, and may provide a new job opportunity for failed vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin.

US Republican Sen. Ted Stevens (C) of Alaska departs the US Federal Courthouse in Washington October 27, 2008. Stevens was found guilty on corruption charges, a verdict that could endanger the powerful Republican's political future who is running against Democrat Mark Begich for one of the two Alaska Senate seats. [Agencies]

Related readings:  Stevens guilty on 7 counts, won't quit Senate race  Sen. Stevens guilty of corruption charges  Judge dismisses juror in Sen. Stevens case  US Sen. Stevens gifts a focus in trial arguments

After being found guilty of political corruption last month, Republican Sen. Ted Stevens, 84, of Alaska clung to a narrow lead on Thursday in his bid to win an eighth term.

With state election officials sorting through thousands of absentee ballots, a winner was not expected to be announced for at least several days.

If challenger Mark Begich pulls it out, it would increase to seven the number of Senate seats Democrats have gained from Tuesday's national election, boosting their majority to 58 in the 100-member chamber.

If Stevens prevails and returns to the Senate, Democratic and Republican leaders have promised to move to have him expelled because of his conviction on seven counts of lying on Senate disclosure forms by failing to report more than $250,000 in home improvements and other gifts from an oil executive.

That would provide an open seat that Palin, Alaska's first-term governor, could run for in a new election that could be called within months.

"I have no idea what Palin will do, but leave it to Republicans to always keep things interesting," one party aide said.

Another party aide said, "If she ran for the Senate she would win. But I don't think she will do it. She'd go from being a popular governor to a junior member of the Senate."

Palin ran for vice president as a Washington outsider and political maverick. Popular yet polarizing, she is viewed as a potential 2012 White House contender.

Stevens has vowed to appeal his conviction and has drawn support from fellow Alaskans who feel indebted to his more than four decades of service in the Senate.

"If Stevens wins re-election, he may resign. He would be going out on his terms. He wouldn't be kicked out," a Republican aide said. "He'd feel vindicated by his own constituents."

Two US senators must soon be replaced because they have found new work, US President-elect Barack Obama of Illinois and Vice President-elect Joe Biden of Delaware. The Democratic governors of their states are expected to replace them with Democrats.

Democrats in the 435-member House of Representatives also increased their majority in Tuesday's election, picking up 20 seats to reach 255. A half dozen races have yet to be decided.