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- In Virginia, Democrat Jim Webb claimed victory but led Sen. George Allen by fewer than 8,000 votes out of just more than 2.3 million cast. Several thousand votes remained to be counted later Wednesday in heavily Democratic precincts in the Washington suburbs, raising the prospect that Webb’s lead could grow, but Allen was counting on a good showing in military absentee ballots, and a recount looked more and more likely.
- In Montana, veteran Republican power broker Conrad Burns trailed Democrat Jon Tester, 49 percent to 48 percent. Many precincts were yet to report because problems with new voting equipment meant the last voter did not cast his ballot until 11:55 p.m. and required a recount of every vote in Yellowstone County.