Posted on 11/09/2006 5:56:19 AM PST by areafiftyone
WASHINGTON -- Democrats wrested control of the Senate from Republicans Wednesday with an upset victory in Virginia, giving the party complete domination of Capitol Hill for the first time since 1994.
Jim Webb's squeaker win over incumbent Sen. George Allen gave Democrats their 51st seat in the Senate, an astonishing turnabout at the hands of voters unhappy with Republican scandal and unabated violence in Iraq. Allen was the sixth Republican incumbent senator defeated in Tuesday's elections.
The Senate had teetered at 50 Democrats, 49 Republicans for most of Wednesday, with Virginia hanging in the balance. Webb's victory ended Republican hopes of eking out a 50-50 split, with Vice President Dick Cheney wielding tie-breaking authority.
The Associated Press contacted election officials in all 134 localities where voting occurred, obtaining updated numbers Wednesday. About half the localities said they had completed their postelection canvassing and nearly all had counted outstanding absentees. Most were expected to be finished by Friday.
The new AP count showed Webb with 1,172,538 votes and Allen with 1,165,302, a difference of 7,236. Virginia has had two statewide vote recounts in modern history, but both resulted in vote changes of no more than a few hundred votes.
An adviser to Allen, speaking on condition of anonymity because his boss had not formally decided to end the campaign, said the senator wanted to wait until most of canvassing was completed before announcing his decision, possibly as early as Thursday evening.
The adviser said that Allen was disinclined to request a recount if the final vote spread was similar to that of election night.
Me too, and it's driving me crazy because none of the news stories mention anything about those ballots. My husband also heard that they were going to be counted today.
I'd like to, but I think he's too tarnished and bruised to run for President now. Maybe a cabinet position in a future GOP administration?
Well, this all but sinks his presidential aspirations.
"..an astonishing turnabout at the hands of voters unhappy with Republican scandal and unabated violence in Iraq."
I pity those who feel the Republicans are the only ones engaged in scandal. Have the Democrats looked in their own closets lately? Do they even want to look inside and see what they have hidden there?
Re: political comebacks
Don't forget Arkansas Bill got dumped from an incumbent governorship and came back to become POTUS
I'll say.
This makes Joe Lieberman the most powerful man in Washington. He can threaten to cross over if the Dems try ANYTHING he doesn't like.
Regards, Ivan
In Virginia, someone who was governor can run again.
But their terms must be non-consecutive.
Mills Godwin was elected governor as a Democrat from 1965-69 and then as a Republican from 1973-77.
Laura makes a good point-in Rumsfeld resigns 6 months ago-is Allen still Senator-probably. Daddy Bush handed us 8 years of Clinton, GW may have just handed us another 8 years with his imcompetence. Let's hope Hillary rallies the base or communism, marxism, high taxes,affirmative action,fascism will reign forever.
eeww. Good Point
Sorry but he came off as weak and ran a terrible campaign against a pervert.
pathetic.
Well, Byrd can't live forever. Doesn't a republican governor control his state? ;-)
I agree, Lieberman has positioned himself pefectly and will wield a huge amount of power.
He was elected to the Senate in 1992 and reelected in 1998.
You'd almost think the Bushes and Clintons had a special agreement.
Almost.
Webb got the pervert vote.
Allen had a great campaign manager. The candidate screwed up, plain and simple.
Now it's time for Giuliani to run!
Shhhhh! you could get hurt saying that! LOL ;-)
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