Where "Recount" Meets "Fargo"

The closest '08 SEN race gets more interesting every day. With almost 20% of the MN ballots (re)counted, Franken has picked up 41 votes, cutting into Coleman's 215-vote lead. Meanwhile, the early GA runoff vote looks encouraging for Chambliss. Ensign says that holding these two seats would boost GOP morale. Can he deliver?

-- One Dem insider tells us to expect 40% of the MN ballots completed by today, including Dem-leaning Hennepin (Minneapolis) and Ramsey (St. Paul). Franken needs a strong showing there to have any chance of overtaking Coleman. But as the Coleman camp reminds us, the GOP-leaning counties have yet to be accounted for.

-- In GA, Martin hopes B. Clinton's visit will help him gin up enthusiasm. And he needs it; By 11/3, 35% of the early vote was black. As of today, black voters make up just 23%. While Dem-heavy counties like DeKalb and Fulton dominated the 11/4 early vote, today it's GOP counties like Hall (which went heavily for McCain) that make up a big slice of the vote.

-- To be sure, GOP wins in these races would more psychological than substantive. Even so, with little else going their way, these are the kinds of wins that they'd love to savor.