The Post Star:

State Sen. Roy McDonald’s re-election bid was dealt a significant blow on Monday after the final round of absentee ballots didn’t close Saratoga County Clerk Kathy Marchione’s lead in the race for the Republican line on November’s ballot.

Marchione held a slim 106-vote lead when the GOP primary polls closed on Sept. 13. That lead swelled another four votes last week after absentee votes were counted Thursday in Washington County and Rensselaer County.

That meant the McDonald campaign had to close the gap in Saratoga County and Columbia County, which tallied absentee ballots on Monday.

But that didn’t happen.

Marchione carried the absentee ballots in Columbia County by a 134-108 vote, according to that county’s Democratic elections commissioner, Virginia Martin.

“For all intents and purposes, it sounds like we’ll be on the Republican line,” said Marchione campaign spokesman Ken Giardin.

... Marchione will [also] appear on the Conservative Party line, support directly related to her opposition to McDonald’s vote last year in favor of gay marriage.