I predict that Reid will win but it will be be extremely close, within two percentage points, and the Angle will either demand a recount or file an election contest or both, breathless and unsubstantiated allegations of fraud will run rampant and will be reported to death by FOXNews, the Washington Times, right-wing blogs and the Wall Street Journal op-ed page. Protracted litigation will follow with the end result being Reid declared the winner after the case wends its way through the state and federal court systems.
The same thing will happen in the CO, CA and WA races, where the Democrats will eventually win two of these three, but the results will be in question long after Congress convenes with recounts and/or election contests in each of them. As a result of the questionable outcome of these races, there will be pandemonium when Congress convenes. Because the Senate requires certified election results before a senator may be seated, Reid, Bennett, Boxer and Murray will not be seated. As a result, there will be 48 seated Democratic senators and 48 seated Republican senators. Joe Lieberman will then defect to the Republican Party, casting a vote for Mitch McConnell as majority leader. Mitch McConnell as majority leader will stack committees with Republicans.
Months later, at least three of Reid, Bennett, Boxer and Murray will be certified as winners of their respective contests, giving the Democrats majority votes in the Senate. Unlike the smooth transition in 2001 when Jim Jeffords defected, Mitch McConnell will refuse to give up the gavel and cede control of the Senate to the Democrats leading to a complete shutdown of the government until 2012.
