Free Republic

A race for mayor of Atlanta headed for a recount on Wednesday after a knife-edge election that exposed a racial fault line running through the biggest city in the U.S. Southeast. Former state Senator Kasim Reed declared victory overnight when official results from the runoff vote showed him beating city councilwoman Mary Norwood by 758 votes out of 83,000 cast. But Norwood declined to concede defeat and is almost certain to demand a recount under rules that permit one when less than 1 percent of votes cast separates the candidates. Norwood, who led an initial round of voting November 3,...

The Dow was up 55.23 today, closing at 11,639.77. Today's close was the second highest ever for the Dow. The previous highest close was 11,582.43 on 1/13/2000. Today's close was also within 85 points of the all time Dow closing high, which was 11,722.98 on 1/14/2000. CNBC reports that the stock market got a late afternoon boost from the approval of tax cut extensions on Capitol Hill.