WASHINGTON, Nov 9: The Democrats consolidated control over the US Congress when they captured the Senate on Thursday after incumbent Republican senator from Virginia, George Allen, conceded defeat.
The victory in Virginia gives the party a complete domination of Capitol Hill for the first time since 1994. Democrats already control the House of Representatives, which they won in Tuesday’s mid-term elections.
The victory in Virginia put the new Senate line-up at 49 Democrats, 49 Republicans and two independents -- Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Joe Lieberman of Connecticut -- who have said they would caucus with the Democrats.
The Virginia seat was undecided until Thursday morning because the contest between Mr Allen and Democrat James Webb was too close to call.
Since the difference of votes between the two was less than one per cent -- 8,000 out of a total of almost three million – Virginia laws allowed a recount and that’s what Mr Allen wanted.
But the incumbent senator changed his mind after some senior members of his party and the media -- including such major newspapers as Washington Post – advised him not to start a lengthy litigation that would have delayed election results for more than a month.
With both the Senate and the House now under the opposition’s control, President George Bush is facing the prospect of being a 'lame duck’ president.
All of the House's 435 seats were contested in Tuesday's elections. Democrats were voted into the majority with a gain of about 30 seats, although they needed only 15.
Opinion polls showed that dissatisfaction with President Bush and his handling of the Iraq war drove many voters to cast their ballot for Democrats.
At the White House on Wednesday, President Bush said he was disappointed with the election results, but called on both political parties to work together on issues of importance to Americans.Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, who is poised to become the first female speaker of the House, has pledged partnership with congressional Republicans.
Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid said the message from the electorate is clear, and that Americans voted for change.
Tuesday's elections included voting for governors in 36 states. Democrats made significant gains, giving them a majority of the top state offices for the first time in 12 years.
Several controversial issues also were on state ballots.
