Dems Bolster Senate Control By 5 Seats

Democrats Hold At Least 56 Seats; 4 Races Undecided; Minn. Headed To Recount, Ga. May Face Runoff

(CBS/AP)  Democrats fattened their majority control of the Senate on Tuesday, ousting Republican Sens. Elizabeth Dole of North Carolina and John Sununu of New Hampshire and capturing seats held by retiring GOP senators in Virginia, New Mexico and Colorado.

CBS News projects that the Democrats will pick up at least five GOP seats, giving them an effective majority of at least 56, including those held by two independents. Sixty seats are needed for a filibuster-proof majority that would preclude Republicans from blocking legislation.

They did not turn over a single seat to Republicans. All Democratic incumbents on the ballot prevailed.

But four races had yet to be decided early Wednesday.

Georgia Sen. Saxby Chambliss could be headed for a special runoff in his reelection bid against Democratic challenger Jim Martin and third party candidate Allen Buckley.

Chambliss needs 50 percent-plus-one of the votes to avoid a runoff. With thousands of absentee ballots still being counted Wednesday morning, Chambliss has fallen below the 50-percent mark, according to the AP.

Martin will host a news conference later this morning to outline his plans. (Click here for live Georgia results)

In Minnesota, the contest between Republican Norm Coleman and challenger Al Franken, the former "Saturday Night Live" writer, was so close (approximately three one-hundredths of a percent) that a recount is mandatory. The race also included a significant third-party candidate, Independent Dean Barkley. (Click here for live Minnesota results)

Coleman leads Franken by a few hundred votes out of nearly 2.9 million cast. Under state law, an automatic recount is triggered when the difference between candidates is less than 0.5%.

Minnesota's Secretary of State Mark Ritchie said a recount wouldn't begin until mid-November at the earliest (that's when the canvassing board meets) and could drag on until December.

Franken is not conceding the Minnesota Senate race to incumbent Coleman, and on Wednesday morning said the race is still close to call.

"We won't know for a little while who won the race," Franken said, "but at the end of the day we will know that the voice of the electorate was clearly heard. There is reason to believe that the recount could change the vote tally significantly."

He also raised the possibility of voter irregularities.

"Our office and the Obama campaign have received reports of irregularities at various precincts around the state," Franken said. "We are lucky enough to live in a state with built-in protections to ensure that in close elections like these, the will of the people is accurately reflected in the outcome.

"This has been a long campaign, and it's going to be a little longer before we have a winner."

Sen. Ted Stevens, R-Alaska. Stevens, at 84, the longest serving Republican in Senate history, sought re-election despite calls from GOP leaders to resign after he was convicted last week of seven counts of lying on Senate financial disclosure forms. He was locked in a tight contest with Democrat Mark Begich, the mayor of Anchorage. (Click here for live Alaska results)

Republican Sen. Gordon Smith in Oregon was also on the list of Democratic targets. (Click here for live Oregon results)


Turnovers

In North Carolina, Kay Hagan ousted the incumbent, Dole, after a bitter contest that featured some intensely negative campaigning, including a Dole ad implying Hagan was an atheist. (Click here for live North Carolina results)

"Kay Hagan's victory tonight in the North Carolina Senate race was sweet, indeed. The seat was once held by Jesse Helms, the bete noir of the Democratic party," Dee Dee Myers, who served as former President Bill Clinton's press secretary, told CBSNews.com. "And Hagan's win - and Obama's impressive showing - suggest the state, like many part of the country, is changing. It's becoming increasingly friendly for Democrats running for local, state and national office."

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Click here for complete Senate election coverage

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In Colorado, Democratic Rep. Mark Udall, son of the late Arizona Rep. Morris "Mo" Udall, beat former Republican Rep. Bob Schaffer for the seat now held by Republican Wayne Allard.

In New Mexico, his cousin, Democrat Tom Udall, beat out Steve Pearce for an open seat vacated by Republican Sen. Pete Domenici.

Democrat Mark Warner breezed to victory in Virginia against Jim Gilmore in a matchup that pitted two former governors against each other for the seat of retiring Sen. John Warner. (Click here for live Virginia results)

In New Hampshire, Jeanne Shaheen defeated Republican incumbent John Sununu.

But Republicans stopped a complete rout. Mitch McConnell, the incumbent Senate minority leader, held onto his Kentucky Senate seat, surviving a surprising challenge from Democrat Bruce Lunsford. President George W. Bush called McConnell to congratulate him on his reelection, according to White House Press Secretary Dana Perino. (Click here for live Kentucky results)

"Winston Churchill once said that the most exhilarating feeling in life is to be shot at - and missed," McConnell said late Tuesday. "After the last few months, I think what he really meant to say is that there's nothing more exhausting."

Kentucky's closer-than-expected race "just shows how the national trends and low job approval of the president affected everyone," Democratic strategist Mark Mellman told CBSNews.com.

Democratic vice presidential candidate Joe Biden won another six-year term representing Delaware in the Senate. It became moot when Obama won the presidential election.

Democratic Sen. Mary Landrieu of Louisiana, the only serious GOP target, won her re-election over Republican state treasurer John Kennedy.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., attributed the Democratic gains to Obama's coattails.

"It's been a really good night," Reid said in an interview with The Associated Press. "Obama ran a terrific campaign, he inspired millions of people."

In a tight Mississippi contest, Republican Roger Wicker, defeated former Democratic Gov. Ronnie Musgrove to serve another four years of the term originally won in 2006 by Lott. Wicker was appointed to the post temporarily after Lott stepped down.

With Warner's victory in Virginia, Democrats now control both Senate seats and the governor's mansion. Virginia usually votes Republican in presidential elections, but Obama also won there Tuesday.

Democrats had counted on a slumping economy, an unpopular war and voter fatigue after eight years of President Bush to bolster a razor-thin 51-49 effective majority they've had the past two years after adding six seats in 2006.

Having a majority in the high 50s will enable Democrats to exercise far more control than they have now, since some Republicans probably would join them in efforts to break Senate logjams on many bills and judicial appointments.

Included in the Democrats' majority are two holdover independents, Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Joe Lieberman of Connecticut, who have voted with them for the most part over the past two years. However, Lieberman, the Democrat's vice presidential nominee in 2000, spent most of 2008 campaigning for McCain.

It was unclear even to Senate leaders Tuesday night whether Lieberman would continue to caucus with the Democrats or keep his chairmanship of the Senate Homeland Security committee. Reid said in the interview that he'll discuss the matter with the Connecticut senator later this week.

Democrats will lose two incumbents: Obama and Biden. Democratic governors in Illinois and Delaware are sure to appoint Democrats to replace them.

Democrats had fewer seats to defend than Republicans. Of the 35 races on Tuesday's ballot, 23 were held by Republicans, 12 by Democrats.

Republicans held the Nebraska seat of retiring Sen. Chuck Hagel, with former Gov. Mike Johanns defeating Democrat Scott Kleeb, a college history instructor. Johanns resigned as Bush's agriculture secretary to make the race.

Republicans also held the Idaho seat of Sen. Larry Craig, who decided not to run for re-election after he was caught last year in a men's room sting. Idaho Lt. Gov. Jim Risch won the seat.

Republican incumbent senators who cruised to re-election included Lindsay Graham in South Carolina, Susan Collins of Maine, Jeff Sessions in Alabama, James Inhofe in Oklahoma, Lamar Alexander in Tennessee, Pat Roberts in Kansas, Thad Cochran of Mississippi, John Cornyn of Texas and Michael Enzi in Wyoming. Sen. John Barrasso, appointed after Wyoming Sen. Craig Thomas died, was elected to fill the remaining four years of Thomas' term.

Democratic senators easily winning re-election included Jay Rockefeller of West Virginia, Dick Durbin of Illinois, John Kerry of Massachusetts, Frank Lautenberg of New Jersey, Carl Levin of Michigan, Tim Johnson of South Dakota, Mark Pryor of Arkansas, Max Baucus of Montana, Tom Harkin of Iowa and Jack Reed of Rhode Island.

[sarahhannen2]

May God hold the state of North Carolina strong, for Evil has descended upon her this evening.

Mrs. Dole, you flew on the wings of Freedom''s Song.

Hold your head High.

[sarahhannen2]

George W Bush is the greatest president the USA has known.

May He hold you strong tonight.

[redtrash]

Elizabeth Dole: LIAR, FASCIST, REPUBLICON, RIP!

Elizabeth Dole (R) is gone from elected office FOREVER! This is just the beginning of a glorious night for liberals throughout America!

[byeneocons]

Let me get this straight... the senile senator wife of a formerly senile senator ran out of Viagra while she was calling other people ''Un-Christian?''

How much did she pay Karl Rove for that line?

[sarahhannen2]

Mrs. Dole-

May your service to this Nation, your service to God be honored.

I fear an Evil has descended onto North Carolina, an Evil of immorality and not Goodness.

[republicants]

Free at last free at last...thank God Almighty we are free at last
- Charlotte, NC

Mrs. Dole-

May your service to this Nation, your service to God be honored.

I fear an Evil has descended onto North Carolina, an Evil of immorality and not Goodness.

[centerfall93]

OOOO Republicans getting SPANKED!!


Lizard DOLE IS OUT!


WAHOOO!!!

BAHAHAHAAHA!

[republicants]

At least Bob takes Viagra!!! You go girl

[stevex47]

Dole ousted in NC. I saw some of her ad''s.

Good strategy....when you want to be a loser.

I''m sensing a theme across the country.

[sarahhannen2]

The person I answer to is God. May new new Senator know the same path, I fear for her and the Evil that is the Democrat way (Monica Lewinsky anyone?)

May God hold George Bush strong tonight, I have lit a candle for him and his family.

[barackforus]

Is this a sign for Barack too in NC?

[centerfall93]

The person I answer to is God. May new new Senator know the same path, I fear for her and the Evil that is the Democrat way (Monica Lewinsky anyone?)

May God hold George Bush strong tonight, I have lit a candle for him and his family.

Posted by sarahhannen2 at 09:17 PM

BAHAHAHAHAHAHA

You go on lighting your candles girl. We''ll govern the country.

[barackforus]

THANK YOU OHIO!!!!

COME ON FL!!!
COME ON NC!!!
COME ON WEST COAST!!

[barackforus]

BARACK: 194
McCAIN: 124

COME ON FL!!
COME ON NC!!
COME ON WEST COAST!
COME ON IN!! I''M NOT GIVING UP ON YOU YET!!!

[barackforus]

EXCUSE ME FOR BEING GREEDY, BUT I WANT ARIZONA TOO. COME ON ARIZONA!!!!!

[buzzardz3]

Dole lost...the voting machines must be honest this year

[hypnotoad72]

Dole lost...the voting machines must be honest this year

Posted by Buzzardz3 at 09:38 PM : Nov 04, 2008
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They always were. Those who programmed them used variables and arrays that truncated and the application sent across America; which is why "18181" was repetitive. No voodoo dolls, magic, or chicanery. Just human error.

[buzzardz3]

MS DOLE HAS BEEN SERVING BUSH AND THE CORPORATE ELITE. GOOD RIDDANCE! ENOUGH REDISTRIBUTION OF WEALTH TO THE RICH.

Mrs. Dole-

May your service to this Nation, your service to God be honored.

I fear an Evil has descended onto North Carolina, an Evil of immorality and not Goodness.

[barackforus]

FL hasn''t come in yet. Not sure of the voting machines there yet. Stay positive.

COME ON FLORIDA!!!

[deathofusa]

how could cbs be calling michigan for Obama? Mccain is leading 51 to 47 and only 9.175% of the precints have reported.

[sarahhannen2]

Lord, forgive the Demicrats, for they know not what they do.

May Your hand guide us strong, hold us (Freedom) in this Dark Night.

May I pripose that all like minded Christians and decent Republicans light a candle and put it in your window, for we have crossed The Rubicon.

There is no turning back. We have lost.

[deathofusa]

We have lost.
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Posted by sarahhannen2 at 09:46 PM : Nov 04, 2008

We haven''t lost yet. Get a grip.

[barackforus]

McCain is not leading Michigan.

[ontheleft]

Elizabeth Dole is OUT of here! I''m going to have a drink for every republican who''s voted out of office tonight. My next drink is going to be dedicated to her. Yee haw!

[chicagoguy49]

right wing nut cases. sheesh... this is not a religious jihad it is an election

[legacyabq]

Geez Sarah get a grip, you and your party''s hysterical and screeching obsession with religion, as evidenced in your post, is one of the many things that''s LOSING this election for you.
Religion belongs in your home, your heart, and your church..
NOT in politics.
Keep that stuff to yourself from now on, and maybe you guys will be taken seriously again, eh?
You poor thing, I bet you think the whole country is going satanic or something, huh?
Grow up already, and get used to Obama.. You will benefit in the next four years, though I highly doubt you will admit it if and when it happens.
Sorry, but enough is enough.. I mean, look at your post!!! Get a grip on yourself!! You sound like a lunatic!

[legacyabq]

Obama isnt squeking by either.
This is a landslide, even in places like Iowa, where the voters are 97% (or so) white, Obama is dominating..
So much for the racist theory that whites wont vote for Obama, eh??
Forget race, it''s a bunch of ***.. Its interesting anthropology, nothing more..
Lets run our country on the valuation of the content of one''s character, and stop talking about levels of Melanin in skin, ok?
God bless everyone!
Yeah, that''s right, I said God

[centerfall93]

OOOOO Republicans are getting SPANKED!! BAhAHAHA!

[idahosilk]

God has chosen Obama!

The election is in ''God''s hands...'' - Sarah Palin

[chris88232]

Christians from the republican side who are wary of Obama''s nationality should not be concerned, there is no need to be racist to any human being.

[trueblueusa]

Old Fashioned BLOW -OUT !!!!!!!


JUMP GOP SECT Members !!!!! JUMP !!!
YOU LOSE !!! YOU LOSE !! YOU LOSE !!!!!

[trueblueusa]

Living Proof !!!!
GOD is a DEMOCRAT!!!

[macusweil]

To words.. like ''em or not..

LIBS RULE!!

[dickyounger]

All these posts are wrong. Obana won in traditonally republican states,yes, but one good screw up - like Clinton''s ill advised assault weapons ban or a poorly conceived income tax policy ($250,000 a year ain''t rich)- and the Democratic party repeats its bad habit of snacking defeat from the very jaws of long- term victory.

[countslapula]

Thank You Jesus for delivering us from your followers.

[credibility2]

sukitobamy: are you really proud to be as ignorant and illiterate as your post reflects? I''d like to remind you that Obama is only half black, with the other half being white. Here''s another news flash for you, black African tribal leaders were responsible for the slave trade to Europeans. So, any reparations for something that happened over two hundred years ago, another one of your blatant stupid mistakes, should first be collected from those responsible for the selling of human flesh - black Africans. Go get ''em boy!

[family2007-2009]

This is all Bush''s fault.

[macusweil]

Dole was such a phony. She can retire now on the all Red Cross & AMD money she racked up over the years. She''ll have so much more quality time with Bob and his little blue pills too.

[sarahhannen2]

This is the Darkest Hour I have ever known.

The Evil cometh strong.

I pray to God for sanctity.

[pakaal]

sarahhannen2: "This is the Darkest Hour I have ever known. The Evil cometh strong. I pray to God for sanctity."

Please do, your sanctimonious commentary requires some form of absolution.

[centerfall93]

Congratulations, President-Elect Obama

A referendum. A mandate. A change.

For the future.

[joezap5]

Thank the lord for this day!!!

[joezap5]

This is the Darkest Hour I have ever known.

The Evil cometh strong.

I pray to God for sanctity.





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Posted by sarahhannen2 at 02:01 AM : Nov 05, 2008

I thinketh thou art a drama queeneth...

[centerfall93]

The presidency and BOTH houses of Congress!

Signed, sealed, delivered.

Obama: IT''S YOURS!

WAHOOO!

[smurfcrusher]

AAAhhhh.... Like manna from heaven.

How sweet it is!

Gee, I wonder where terrorislam is hiding...

So much for the politics of ignorance and fear.

Bye bye, Moose Whisperer!

Barack Obama, YES WE CAN! I am so very proud of you, and hopeful for our country.

[atlanta1962]

when bush took over 8 years ago the dark ages and days started

[ddaymichael]

AND NOW FOR THE HARD PART...

If the Democrats fail to win a filibuster-proof 60 seats in the Senate, look for organized obstruction from surviving Republicans.

The GOP has long demonstrated a willingness to work against the interests of the country and her people, to work against them as a group, for no other reason than to deny Democrats any worthy, potentially vote-getting achievements for partisan, political ends.

They are not Americans...THEY ARE REPUBLICANS! They don%u2019t want to live in an America that they cannot control and exploit.

They will probably retire to their walled, guarded estates to plot their revenge against Obama, the Democratic Party, and especially against the people of the United States who booted them out of power.

WATCH THEM CLOSELY, AMERICA!

Take note of which legislators refuse to vote their conscience or their common sense or indeed, will vote against the interests of the American people to further their obstructionist masters%u2019 agenda.

PUT THEM ON NOTICE...let them be aware that they will watched...that they will be held accountable by the American people, and will have their fitness to remain in office evaluated accordingly.

[rickywilson3]

i haven''t felt this positive about anything since 1992....its like waking up in the middle of a nightmare and realizing its only a bad dream....now lets get that uhaul packed and get bubba back to crawford....he can swing north and drop cheney off in wyoming....

[gocubs58]

Welcome to the beginning of the Dark Ages.

Posted by CBSisPravda

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No, the dark ages just ended less than 7 hours ago.....where have you been the last 8 years, under a rock??

[n8yvn29]

EAT YOUR HEARTS OUT Christian Taliban (and your imams including Dr. James Dobson), Muslim Taliban (and your imams), homophobes, racists, and elitist republicans in general. Even manipulating the vote-counting machines was not enough to deny real Americans their voice. YOUR OX HAS DONE BEEN GORED!!