WASHINGTON, Nov 19: Democrats edged closer to total dominance in the US Senate after their challenger ended the longest Republican career in the chamber's history by unseating corruption-tainted veteran Ted Stevens.

The win by Anchorage mayor Mark Begich left Democrats on Wednesday on 58 seats in the 100-seat chamber, with two races, in Minnesota and Georgia, still undecided following the Nov 4 election.

Should Democrats get to 60 seats, they will be able to thwart Republican filibuster obstruction tactics which have gummed up the legislature since they seized control in 2006.

A manual hand recount of more than two million votes was set to begin on Wednesday in Minnesota, where incumbent Republican Norm Coleman has a lead of only 206 votes over Democrat and former comedian Al Franken.

A new election is set for Dec 2 in Georgia, after Republican Saxby Chambliss failed to beat the 50 per cent threshold to head off a re-run vote in a narrow victory on Nov 4 over Democrat Jim Martin.

Stevens, 85, was sent packing after 40 years as a ferocious and curmudgeonly advocate for his remote state, where he was known as “Uncle Ted,” when Begich carved out an unassailable lead in the count of final absentee ballots.

He once described himself as a “mean, miserable S.O.B.” and was considered a lock for re-election to a seventh six-year term before his conviction on graft charges in a Washington trial just before the election.

Begich told National Public Radio on Wednesday that the Stevens conviction was only partly to blame for the Republican's defeat.

“You know, 40 years he served our state and he did a lot of great service, but the last three or four years, I think his focus was not really on what Alaskans needed.” Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Chairman Chuck Schumer said in a statement that Begich would be an outstanding senator.

“With seven seats and counting now added to the Democratic ranks in the Senate, we have an even stronger majority that will bring real change to America.” Stevens was found guilty after a trial for making false statements on mandatory financial disclosure forms he filed between 1999 and 2006 concerning gifts he received from an oil-services firm.

He maintains he was wrongly accused and has vowed to win his appeal.

On Tuesday, Stevens was on Capitol Hill where his fellow Republicans decided not to hold a vote on expelling him from their caucus as it appeared he would lose his seat.

“I haven't had a night's sleep for almost four months,” Stevens was quoted by the Anchorage Daily News as saying.

“I've been living about three different lives, and it's hard to even answer your questions properly,” he said, adding “I wouldn't wish what I've been through on anyone, my worst enemy.” On Tuesday, Democrats voted to allow Joseph Lieberman a independent senator who angered many in the party by supporting Republican John McCain in the presidential election, to keep his key committee post.

Lieberman, who normally votes with the Democrats, had sent signals he might defect to the Republicans if he was stripped of his position — thereby ending Democratic hopes for the magic 60 seat threshold.

Alaska is also the home state of defeated Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin, who is presently the state's governor.

Palin had been the subject of speculation as to whether she would consider a run at Stevens's seat in the event he won the election but was forced out of the Senate by his colleagues.—AFP