It looks like the GOP will hang on to a key House seat, after all. There were some doubts surrounding GOP candidate John Fleming's 356-vote lead over Dem Paul Carmouche in Saturday's election in Northern Louisiana, because of an unknown number of outstanding provisional ballots and the slimness of the overall margin.

But a Louisiana election official tells us that the numbers aren't really in doubt. "I'll tell you that we're confident in the results," said Jacques Berry, press secretary for the Louisiana Secretary of State, in a phone call with Election Central, explaining to us that there are only about 50 provisionals left.

Berry told us that if Carmouche does not concede and instead files for a recount, he would have to cover all the costs. Louisiana does not provide for a state-paid recount, unless the candidate can get a judge to order one for some particular reason.

Carmouche spokesperson Bert Kaufman indicated in an e-mail to Election Central that the campaign is taking a wait-and-see approach: "At this point, we await the counting of those provisional ballots, which, as far as I know, is scheduled to take place tomorrow afternoon."

But for now, put this seat in the Republican column.