Democrats have come within two seats of a super majority in the Senate with the loss of Alaska Republican Ted Stevens on Tuesday. Former Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich made up enough votes in the slow manual count of outstanding ballots to claim a victory - for himself but especially for Democrats and President-Elect Barack Obama.

Stevens was the longest serving Republican senator in history and had it not been for being found guilty of seven counts of corruption would have easily won his re-election to a another term.

"Alaska voters wanted to see change. Alaska has been in the midst of a generational shift - you could see it," Mark Begich told reporters in Anchorage.

A very close recount will begin in Minnesota between Republican Senator Norm Coleman and Democratic challenger Al Franken. At the moment Franken is trailing by 215 votes with only 0.01% between the two candidates.

The final contested race is in Georgia between Republican Saxby Chambliss and rival Democrat Jim Martin. Since neither candidate was able to secure a majority of the votes they will have a face-off election on December 2nd. If Democrats pick up these two seats they will have a filibuster proof majority to ensure passage of their aggressive legislative agenda.