Down the ballot: Bargaining chip's gone

COLORADO: Tom Tancredo has retired . ILLINOIS: Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who will pick Obama's replacement, likes Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. LOUISIANA: A bargaining chip is gone for Rep. William Jefferson. "Jefferson, a Louisiana Democrat who likely faces a trial next year on bribery and money laundering charges, can no longer offer his resignation as part of a plea deal with prosecutors. Jefferson has pleaded not guilty in the case, which started in 2005 when federal agents found $90,000 in alleged bribe money stashed in the freezer of his Washington home." MINNESOTA: "The city of Minneapolis has stopped searching for about 130 ballots in the U.S. Senate recount, leaving state officials to choose between two sets of tallies in the tight race between Sen. Norm Coleman and Al Franken. City officials believed ballots were missing after the number of votes recounted in one precinct ended up 133 less than the number tallied on Election Day. The missing votes favored Franken, who ... (link)