Colorado Senate: Michael Bennet Takes Razor Thin Victory

Michael Bennet (D) and Ken Buck (R)

/ AP Photo

CBS News is now projecting that Democrat Michael Bennet will win the Colorado Senate race over Tea Party-backed Republican Ken Buck in what was an extremely close contest.

With 3156 out of 3246 precincts reporting, vote totals show Bennett leading Buck 794,724 to 779,280. That's a difference of just 15,444 votes.

The Associated Press, Fox News and the Denver Post projected the race for Bennet earlier today. CBS News declined to make such a call until now because of outstanding ballots and the possibility of a recount.

According to the Post, a recount takes place if the difference between the candidates' voter totals is less than one half of one percent. The difference between the two is about twice that now.

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Bennet claimed victory this morning, thanking "the thousands of Coloradans who made this victory possible, who gave so much to our campaign, knocking on doors, making calls, and working tirelessly to ensure we leave more opportunity to the next generation."

"Yesterday, Colorado chose to move our state and this country forward. I will do everything I can to live up to the confidence you have placed in me," he said. Bennet was appointed to the seat to replace Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar.

Buck conceded and called Bennet to congratulate him this afternoon. His campaign said Buck told Bennet that "while the final margin in the race is very small, Colorado voters have spoken and he wishes Senator Bennet well."

Buck's apparent loss is a blow for the Tea Party movement, which on the Senate side had a rough night last night. There are now three Tea Party-backed candidates - Buck, Nevada's Sharron Angle and Delaware's Christine O'Donnell - who lost in seats that Republicans might plausible have won with stronger candidates.

Democrats are now projected to control at least 52 seats in the new Congress. Two races remain outstanding: Washington, where Democrat Patty Murray holds a slim lead with many precincts yet to report, and Alaska, where the results might not be known for weeks.

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Brian Montopoli is a political reporter for CBSNews.com. You can read more of his posts here. Follow Hotsheet on Facebook and Twitter.

[cybergrampa]

Congrats pahgre! Love your state and after retirement next year intend to move there. In the next election consider me one more vote on your side.

[abbe91]

I guess the Buck stops there.

[rf35]

I'm glad I got my absentee ballot in early. An election this close is a reminder that every vote counts!

[brian_norwood]

Thanks for that. Nice job. Wish more people felt like you.

[strikerF2]

Never thought Colorado would become a give-me state,Too Bad.

[abbe91]

Like Virginia, the top state receiver of federal dollars ? or like Palin's Alaska ?

[bajajohn1]

One would have thought people in Colorado were more intelligent. Imagine those so-called intelligent people voting for a teabagger? What is this world coming to?

[kevjustice]

and another one bites the dust.

[historyoftomorrow]

This is how the Midterms will be Remembered 1,000 years from now: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wlffdZtWOKc