A birthday update for a high-profile federal defendant

As detailed in this CNN political post, today "may not be the happiest of birthday's for Ted Stevens. As the longtime Republican Senator from Alaska marks his 85th birthday, he's fighting for his political life."  Here's more from this new AP articleabout Stevens' current status and his trials and tribulations:

Convicted Sen. Ted Stevens clung Tuesday to the hope that a climactic vote count in Alaska would buttress his argument to remain in Congress and fellow Republicans accommodated him by putting off a decision on his expulsion.

It was just another in a series of topsy-turvy days for the 84-year-old, six-term senator who has been straddling coast-to-coast challenges to his power. Notwithstanding all that turmoil, Stevens revealed that he will not ask President Bush to give him a pardon for his seven felony convictions....

"I wouldn't wish what I'm going through on anyone, my worst enemy," he lamented to reporters at one point. "I haven't had a night's sleep for almost four months, all right."

It was possible he'd know a lot more about the electoral fight back home in Alaska before the day was done. Election officials there resumed counting some 24,000 absentee and contested votes....

Many of Stevens GOP colleagues have called on him to resign, but Stevens plans to appeal his convictions.

Some recent related Stevens posts:

• Senator Stevens convicted on all counts
• Some sentencing questions after Senator Stevens conviction
• How should (and will) Senator Stevens' political past and future impact his sentencing?
• Will Senator Stevens pay at sentencing for election-related comments?
• As more Alaskan votes are counted, Senator Stevens may have more time to focus on sentencing issues
• Friday's news full of mixed blessings for Senator Ted Stevens

UPDATE:  CNN provides this update election report: "Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens, the Republican lawmaker convicted on felony corruption charges in October, was defeated in his bid for re-election by Democrat Mark Begich, according to a release from Begich's campaign and unofficial results from state officials."