 DE'VOTE'D FANS:The First Couple exchanges greetings with a family - and a young supporter - after voting yesterday at the firehouse in their Crawford, Texas, hometown. - Reuters |
November 6, 2002 -- President Bush's popularity boosted his party day to a historic triumph last night, as Republicans won control of the U.S. Senate and added to their majority in the House.
"Oh, wow - what a night!" exulted Republican Elizabeth Dole as she celebrated her election as a new U.S. senator from North Carolina.
The final triumph came shortly after 2 a.m., when Democratic Sen. Jean Carnahan of Missouri conceded she'd lost to Republican Jim Talent - giving Bush's party 50 Senate seats - and that means control, since Vice President Cheney will break any tie.
The GOP will take Senate control instantly if there's a post-election lame-duck sessio,. since Talent assumes his office immediately to complete the term of Carnahan's late husband, Mel - she got the seat on an interim basis after he died in a plane crash.
Two other Democrat seats were also at risk early today - South Dakota and Minnesota, and Republicans led in both. The GOP also had a chance at the Louisiana Senate seat with a Dec. 7 runoff.
In Minnesota, with 65 percent of the vote counted, Republican Norm Coleman was leading Walter Mondale by 50 to 45 percent for the Senate seat that was held by Paul Wellstone (D) until he died in a plane crash.
In South Dakota, Republican John Thune led by 50 to 49 percent over Sen. Tim Johnson, with 748 of 844 precincts counted, in a potential embarrassment for Senate Democratic leader Tom Daschle in his home state.
Now that Republicans hold the Senate, Bush has a far better chance to push his agenda - and his judgeship nominees - forward, and he also gains more international clout to press his war on terror just as he's reaching a crucial point in the showdown with Iraq.
"People are tired of the gridlock they've seen in Congress - they want to see a good positive movement in Congress," said House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.), who was looking forward to an expanded majority.
In Georgia, Bush's strong support helped Rep. Saxby Chambliss (R) upset Sen. Max Cleland. In North Carolina, Dole held the Senate seat for Republicans, and Rep. John Sununu (R) handily won New Hampshire.
Democrats notched just one pickup in Arkansas where Republican Sen. Tim Hutchinson was haunted by his decision to divorce his wife for a youthful staffer, and Mark Pryor beat him.
Louisiana's unique system has election and primary all in one, and Sen. Mary Landrieu (D) topped the field against three Republicans. However, she fell short of 50 percent and thus faces a Dec. 7 runoff against Republican Suzie Terrell.
Landrieu got 46 percent, but the three Republicans combined got 51.
In North Carolina, Dole hugged and smooched hubby Bob Dole as the political torch in that family passed from husband to wife, giving Bob Dole a chance to join Bill Clinton in the Senate spouses' club.
"He's the best surrogate a candidate could have," Senator-elect Dole added of her husband, who was Senate majority leader before his ran unsuccessfully for president in 1996.