Wellstone was the Democrats' best hope to hold onto control of the Senate. According to the polls, he was going to be reelected. Since his wife was also killed, she won't
be able to stand in for him. This is unlike the Mel Carnahan situation in which he also died in a plane crash but his wife was able to take his place. It should be remembered that John Ashcroft was actually defeated by a dead guy (Mel Carnahan) in Missouri. That demonstrates the popularity of Ashcroft, the current Gauleiter of the Beltway. The laws are a little unclear - but what a stroke of luck for the Republicans.

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