By Karen Cross and Tim Wymore

Editor's note. Part Two explains a terrible decision in Montana legalizing assisted suicide. Part Three discusses the welcomed drop in abortions in South Dakota. Please send your comments to daveandrusko@gmail.com.

Yogi Berra once said, "It ain't over til it's over." He was speaking at the time of the pennant race, but he may as well have referred to the 2008 election cycle. Between the contested Minnesota senate race and two Louisiana house races, pro-life citizens have had good reason to pay attention to politics well into December.

Hurricane Gustav was responsible for the delayed general election in Louisiana's 2nd and 4th congressional districts. On December 6 Louisianans finally went to the polls to decide whether to reelect the 2nd district's pro-abortion Rep. William Jefferson and to decide who would succeed pro-life 4th district Rep. Jim McCrery. Jefferson has a 0% record with National Right to Life in the current congress. McCrery, who is pro-life, is retiring at the end of the current term.

Pro-life candidates won both races. Pro-life Republican Anh "Joseph" Cao upset Rep. Jefferson, 49.6% to 46.8%. With all precincts reporting Mr. Cao won by fewer than two thousand votes. Mr. Cao was given virtually no chance against Rep. Jefferson, even though Jefferson is facing corruption charges.

But with National Right to Life PAC's help, Cao ousted the nine-term incumbent and will stand for the rights of the unborn. He is the first Vietnamese-American elected to Congress.

Dr. Fleming's victory was the classic nail-biter. With all precincts reporting Fleming, a Republican, secured 48 percent of the vote with 44,497 votes, while Democrat Carmouche tallied 44,141 votes, or 47.7 percent.

National Right to Life PAC's endorsement and support of Dr. Fleming likely made the difference in his victory.

More than a month after Election Day, the recount continues in Minnesota's Senate race between Pro-life Sen. Norm Coleman ® and pro-abortion challenger Al Franken (D).

One early tally had NRLC-endorsed Sen. Coleman leading by 303 votes. That margin has ebbed and flowed on almost daily ballot as the two campaigns jostle over allegedly "missing" ballots and challenges to individual ballots.

According to the [Minneapolis] Star-Tribune, as of this afternoon, "When Election Day totals are put side by side with the recounted tallies, Coleman holds a 192-vote lead." Beginning December 16, the five-member state Canvassing Board will meet begin reviewing the disputed ballots.

If Sen. Coleman can hang on to his uncomfortably slim lead, his will be another valuable pro-life vote in the Senate, which has already lost several pro-life members this year. His victory, along with that of pro-life Georgia Sen. Chambliss last week, Cao's, and Fleming's, would make a welcome ending to a long election year.

Part Two -- Assisted Suicide Legalized in Montana
Part Three -- Abortions Drop In South Dakota