Scott Murphy's lead in New York's 20th Congressional District continues to grow: 264 votes now.  To put this in perspective -- assume this is the final count.  1,200 challenged absentee ballots are outstanding, with Republican Jim Tedisco reportedly having challenged around 60% of the challenged ballots.   Tedisco would have to win all of his challenges (including a challenge to the ballot of Kirtsen Gillibrand), while winning over half  of the challenges that Murphy brought against Tedisco's ballots.  Possible?  Certainly.  Likely?  Seems not.

At some point, Tedisco will have to decide whether it is worth it to tie up Murphy in what looks to be a losing battle, or whether he packs it in to live to fight another day.  One imagines that the 2010 midterms will be a better playing field for a Republican than the one that existed less than 100 days after a Republican President left with a 30% approval rating.  But if Tedisco damages his credibility too much by pursuing what will increasingly be viewed as a sore-loser strategy, even the improved playing field won't be enough to help him.

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