NY House Race Too Close To Call

The special election for the vacated House seat of New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand yesterday was considered a crucial test for the Republican Party, whom voter registration in the district heavily favors. How’d it go? The results seem headed for Al Franken-Norm Coleman territory. After 154,000 people voted, Democrat Scott Murphy leads Republican James Tedisco 77,344 to 77,279. But up to 10,000 absentee ballots remain to be counted, and the counting may take several weeks. The race is considered a referendum on embattled RNC chairman Michael Steele, who pumped money into the race. Politico notes, “a few things are clearer after Tuesday’s contest, none of it welcome news to the Republican Party.”