From the Boston Herald, Wednesday 11/5:

"With more than 80 percent of the precincts reporting, Stevens held a 2-percentage point advantage over Democrat Begich. About 4,000 votes separated the candidates. The razor-thin margin means the Senate race might not be decided for two weeks.

"Still to be counted are roughly 40,000 absentee ballots, with more expected to arrive in the mail, as well as 9,000 uncounted early votes and thousands of questioned ballots. The state Elections Division has up to 15 days after the election to tally all the remaining ballots before finalizing the count."

With the number of absentee ballots equal to ten times the margin by which Stevens leads, anything can happen, and it definitely WILL take a while (and perhaps a lawsuit) before this is settled.

If the Democratic challenger wins in the end, he'll serve a full term, if nothing else.

If Stevens wins, he is not automatically disqualified for the Senate by his conviction, but he IS subject to being voted out by his fellow Senators.

And if they kick him out, it will indeed be up to Governor Palin to appoint the replacement to finish out his term. She will surely want to appoint herself if allowed, let her Lieutenant Governor succeed her in Juneau, move to Washington, and set forth on her career as a leader of President Obama's opposition, keeping her eye at all times on taking over the White House in 2012.

Not saying she'll succeed, but she is almost certain to try.