Congressional seat contested

SOUTHAMPTON – Despite trailing Democrat Rep. Tim Bishop (D-Southhampton) 51 percent to 49 percent, some 3,500 votes, Republican Randy Altschuler, a St. James businessman, believes absentee ballots can put him over the top in the 1st Congressional District race. Newsday reported that almost 9,000 absentee ballots remain with both sides promising to keep a watchful eye on the count.