WASHINGTON, Nov 6: The Republicans won control of the US Senate and retained their hold on the House of Representatives on Tuesday, giving President George W. Bush a historic victory in mid-term elections, which traditionally goes against the incumbent president. In addition, the Republicans claimed a majority of the governors’ race too.

The unprecedented victory also eroded a powerful opposition to Bush’s planned military offensive against Iraq and allows him to pursue his policies vigorously.

What does concern US friends and foes alike is the absence of a meaningful debate in a Republican-controlled Senate over issues like Iraq. Such concerns are not on the minds of the winning Republicans who were celebrating their victory all the night.

“President Bush and the Republican Party tonight have made history,” the president’s spokesman Ari Fleischer said in a conference call with reporters. Less than an hour later, Democratic Sen Jean Carnahan of Missouri, conceded defeat to Republican Jim Talent, sealing Republican control of the Senate.

When the new Congress is sworn in January, it will be the first time in 50 years that Republicans take outright control of the White House, Senate and House.

Republicans were assured of 51 seats in the 100-member Senate, leaving two states undecided: South Dakota, where votes were almost even, and in Louisiana, where Democratic Sen Landrieu faces a Dec 7 runoff.