Shades of Florida, 2000

It appears from all the available evidence that Jim Webb, the Democrat, has won the U.S. Senate seat in Virginia by the slimmest of margins. If it holds — and it should — that would give both houses of Congress to the Democrats.

But don’t expect the GOP to go down without a fight — it’s not the party’s M.O., even if Sen. George Allen, the loser in this race, is making nice-nice noises.

A recount is in the offing, one the Democrats may fight. That would be foolish. We should use the Florida model — the Democrats demanded a recount, were right to do so and should agree to one without reservations this time. The reality is that the 7,000 votes that separate the two candidates are not likely to be bridged by a recount and to fight one would leave the Democrats looking petty and partisan.

South Brunswick Post, The Cranbury Press
The Blog of South Brunswick

Author: hankkalet

Hank Kalet is a poet and freelance journalist. He is the economic needs reporter for NJ Spotlight, teaches journalism at Rutgers University and writing at Middlesex County College and Brookdale Community College. He writes a semi-monthly column for the Progressive Populist. He is a lifelong fan of the New York Mets and New York Knicks, drinks too much coffee and attends as many Bruce Springsteen concerts as his meager finances will allow. He lives in South Brunswick with his wife Annie. View all posts by hankkalet