NPR: The Count: Franken, Barry Win

The Count: Franken, Barry Win

Senate Updates:
MN SEN (GOP): Comedian and activist Al Franken defeated six opponents to win the Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate in Minnesota. Franken faces incumbent Republican Senator Norm Coleman in November. Franken was designated as his party's candidate months ago, but the primary made it official.

NH SEN (GOP): Sen.John Sununu (R) and ex-Gov. Jeanne Shaheen (D) breezed to victory in their primaries and continue their intensive rematch of 2002, which Sununu won by just four percentage points.

House Updates:
NH-01 (DEM): Ex-Rep. Jeb Bradley (R) narrowly won his party's nomination and set the stage for a rematch in November with Carol Shea-Porter (D), who ousted him in an upset two years ago.

NH-02 (DEM): Columnist and talk-show host Jennifer Horn (R) who won her party's nomination will face freshman Democratic incumbent Paul Hodes (D).

NY-10 (DEM): Ex-MTV "Real World" celeb Kevin Powell was handed an old school Brooklyn smack down by longtime Rep. Ed Towns. Towns was in a bit of a political pickle last year when he endorsed Clinton over Obama, but he still managed to beat Powell by a 2-1 margin.

NY-13 (GOP): Robert Straniere (R) will face Michael McMahon (D) for the seat being vacated by Republican incumbent Vito Fossella, whose political career came to a screeching end when, following his arrest for drunk driving in Virginia, it was revealed he had fathered a child with another woman. This was most probably a surprise to his own wife and children back on Staten Island, and it was enough to end any thoughts of running for re-election. Fossella is the only Republican member of Congress from New York City.

NY-26 (GOP): In what was a major upset -- and a stinging defeat for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee -- Alice Kryzan, an attorney, won a hotly contested three-way Democratic battle for her party's nomination for the seat being vacated by Rep. Tom Reynolds (R). The Dem establishment had put its money on Jon Powers, an Iraqi war veteran. Kryzan faces businessman Chris Lee (R) in November.

Marion Barry Watch:
Former DC Mayor Marion Barry held onto his Ward 8 city council seat.

-- Michael Olson

12:35 AM ET | 09-10-2008 | permalink

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Go Franken! I can't wait for his next debate with Bill O'Reilly - it's a lot harder to spit venom and insults when you have to respectfully say "Senator" before your rival's name.

I've long felt that comedians are the only people in America who are free to say out loud what really is wrong with this country and what really needs to be done about it. Hopefully Franken won't lose that courage once he has the power to do something about these problems.

Sent by Kasreyn | 11:16 AM ET | 09-10-2008

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