IT AIN'T OVER – AT 9:30 A.M. ET:  The election is not over.  Three critical US Senate races are still unresolved.

We thought we had Republican Rick Scott's victory in Florida nailed down, and Scott claimed victory over incumbent Dem Senator Bill Nelson.   Not so fast.  The final totals show Scott with 50.2% and Nelson with 49.8%, within the half-point spread that triggers an automatic recount in Florida.  You'll recall the Florida recount in the 2000 presidential race.  This can go on for weeks.

Arizona:  With 99% of the votes counted, our Martha McSally leads with 49.3%, with Dem Krysten Sinema at 48.4%.  However, we're told that there may be hundreds of thousands of early-voting ballots uncounted, and that could take many days.  One official says that there might not be first results from that count until Thursday.  The good news:  Earlier reporting said that the early Arizona vote came mostly from Republicans.  But we may have to wait to celebrate.

Montana:  Fascinating.  With 84% of votes counted, Republican challenger Matt Rosendale is leading incumbent Dem Senator Jon Tester, 48.9% to 48.2%.  We're hoping for a GOP victory to flip the seat, but it's too early to tell.

Now the sadness:  We lost Nevada, the only clear Republican Senate loss last night.  Dean Heller lost to Democrat Jacky Rosen.

There is no statistical way for the Democrats to take control in the Senate, but Florida, Arizona, and Montana, if they go GOP, would mean a GOP pickup of five seats, and that would be sweet.  We wait for numbers.

On another matter, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams of Georgia is refusing to concede defeat, despite the fact that Republican Brian Kemp leads her 50.5% to 48.6%. The source of her resistance is the fact that one county – DeKalb – has not reported all its votes.  Hmm.  DeKalb contains the Atlanta area, where Dem majorities are heavy.  And it's the only county out?  I wonder why, I wonder why.  Does the term "hanky panky" interest you?  If Kemp's final vote falls below 50%, there will be an automatic runoff.  Stand by.

November 7,  2018