Dems save Senate majority, Reid; GOP grabs 6 seats

[November 03, 2010]  WASHINGTON (AP) -- Democrats narrowly held their Senate majority Tuesday but suffered at least six stinging losses, including the Illinois seat once held by President Barack Obama.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada survived a fierce challenge from tea party Republican Sharron Angle. However, Republicans ousted two Democratic senators and picked up Democratic-held seats in four other states, leaving Reid with a greatly diminished majority.

Reid's win, plus Democratic victories in California and West Virginia, kept Republicans short of the 10-seat gain they needed to control the 100-member chamber. Races in Alaska, Colorado and Washington were too close to call.

With Republicans taking over the House, Obama will need a Democratic-run Senate to champion his legislative agenda.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., hailed his party's gains. "Tonight the voters ensured their message was heard loud and clear," he said.

His task won't be easy, however. Several of his new GOP colleagues are tea party acolytes who already have taken delight in tweaking the party establishment.

As for the Democrats, Reid, a former boxer, said, "the fight is far from over." He called Tuesday's results a bell signaling "the start of the next round."

Veteran Democratic Sens. Russ Feingold of Wisconsin and Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas lost their re-election bids. Republicans took open Democratic-held Senate seats in Illinois, Pennsylvania, North Dakota and Indiana.

In Illinois, GOP Rep. Mark Kirk won a bitter contest against Democratic state treasurer Alexi Giannoulias for Obama's old seat. Giannoulias was dogged by legal woes at his opponent's family-owned bank, while Kirk had his own problems after exaggerating his military record. Obama made several campaign appearances for Giannoulias, including last Saturday and Sunday.

Tea party champions won high-profile races in Florida and Kentucky, spearheading a likely cadre of libertarian-leaning Republicans who will press party leaders to be more adamant about lower taxes, less spending and smaller government.

Rand Paul of Kentucky and Marco Rubio of Florida rocked the GOP establishment last spring by routing leadership favorites in party primaries. Then they beat back Democrats' efforts to paint them as too extreme, winning comfortably on Tuesday.

In Utah, tea party-backed Mike Lee also won easily after snatching the Republican nomination from Sen. Bob Bennett in March.

"Tonight there's a tea party tidal wave," said an exultant Paul.

Some Republicans, however, will render a harsher judgment. Earlier this year, the GOP appeared in position to beat Reid and to claim Vice President Joe Biden's old Delaware seat. But tea party upstarts won the Republican nominations in both states and proved to be seriously flawed challengers in the general election.

Republicans, however, recruited well in Wisconsin, Arkansas and elsewhere.

Feingold, a three-term Democrat, lost to GOP newcomer Ron Johnson in Wisconsin. Best known for efforts to tighten campaign finance laws, Feingold was the only senator to vote against the so-called Patriot Act passed after the 2001 terrorist attacks, calling it a dangerous infringement on civil liberties.

Johnson, 55, made a fortune in manufacturing plastics. He wants to repeal the nation's new health care law, which he calls the greatest single assault on freedom in his lifetime.

Lincoln fell to GOP Rep. John Boozman in Arkansas, where Obama lost by 20 percentage points two years ago. Conservatives said Lincoln was too close to Obama, while liberals said she wasn't loyal enough.

Republican Pat Toomey won a hard-fought race in Pennsylvania, narrowly beating Democrat Joe Sestak. The seat was held by Republican-turned-Democrat Arlen Specter, whom Sestak beat in the primary.

Indiana voters sent Republican Dan Coats, 67, back to the Senate after a 12-year absence. Coats, who spent a decade in the Senate before stepping down in 1998, defeated Democratic Rep. Brad Ellsworth. The seat is being vacated by Democrat Evan Bayh.

In North Dakota, Republican Gov. John Hoeven handily won the Senate seat that retiring Democrat Byron Dorgan held for 18 years.

But Connecticut's attorney general, Richard Blumenthal, kept his state's open Senate seat in Democratic hands, fending off pro wrestling entrepreneur Linda McMahon.

Paul, who beat Democratic Kentucky Attorney General Jack Conway, is an ophthalmologist who had not sought office before. His father is Rep. Ron Paul of Texas, a hero to many libertarians. GOP Sen. Jim Bunning is retiring from the seat.

Rubio, a former Florida House speaker, is not a political newcomer. But he defied his party's establishment by refusing to stand aside for Gov. Charlie Crist in the Senate race. Crist ran an independent effort, but Rubio comfortably defeated him and Democratic Rep. Kendrick Meek. The Florida seat's previous two occupants were Republicans who stepped down.

Christine O'Donnell, another tea party darling, lost to Democrat Chris Coons in Delaware. She also had won a stunning GOP primary victory, beating longtime Rep. Mike Castle, who was expected to top Coons. But she raised eyebrows with curious comments about witchcraft, the First Amendment and other topics, and failed to extend her popularity to the broader November electorate.

Tea partiers were hoping Republican Ken Buck in Colorado could oust Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet.

In Alaska, a tempestuous three-way race threatened another tea partier, GOP nominee Joe Miller. Sen. Lisa Murkowski was running a rare write-in campaign after losing the Republican nomination to Miller. The Democratic nominee was Scott McAdams.

Also in question was Washington Sen. Patty Murray's bid to fend off GOP challenger Dino Rossi.

In New Hampshire, Republican Kelly Ayotte kept her party in control of the seat being vacated by Judd Gregg. The former state attorney general defeated Democratic Rep. Paul Hodes.

Rob Portman won the Ohio Senate race, keeping a Republican in the seat that Sen. George Voinovich is vacating. Portman spent 12 years in the U.S. House starting in 1993. He later was budget director and then U.S. trade representative under President George W. Bush. Portman defeated Democratic Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher.

In Kansas, GOP Rep. Jerry Moran won the Senate seat vacated by Republican Sam Brownback, who was elected governor Tuesday.

And Rep. Roy Blunt kept Missouri's open Senate seat in Republican hands.

Easily winning re-election as expected were Sens. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, David Vitter, R-La., Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, John McCain, R-Ariz., Jim DeMint, R-S.C., Richard Shelby, R-Ala., Tom Coburn, R-Okla., Richard Burr, R-N.C., John Thune, R-S.D., Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., Daniel Inouye, D-Hawaii, Ron Wyden, D-Ore., Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., and Barbara Mikulski, D-Md.

Democrats effectively had a 59-41 Senate edge before the election. Technically they held 57 seats, but two independent senators caucus with the party.

[Associated Press; By CHARLES BABINGTON]

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