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Photo: AP
Jim Webb
Photo: AP
Courtesy Photo
Sen. George Allen

Report: Democrats complete sweep of Congress

AP, NBC report Jim Webb's victory over Sen. George Allen in Virginia assures Democrats of 51 seats in Senate; Republicans lose majority in two houses of Congress

The NBC network announced early Thursday that according to its forecast, the Democratic Party gained victory in the State of Virginia, assuring a majority of 51 seats in the US Senate, compared to 49 seats obtained by the Republicans.

 

If the forecasts are in fact verified, the Democratic Party will complete its election sweep of Congress.

 

US President George W. Bush's has already been forced to bid farewell to his defense minister, who is paying the price for the war in Iraq, an issue which was at the focus of the mid-term elections.

 

The Associated Press reported that Democratic candidate Jim Webb managed to defeat Sen. George Allen in Virginia.

 

AP contacted election officials in all 134 localities in Virginia where voting occurred, obtaining updated numbers Wednesday. About half the localities said they had completed their postelection canvassing and nearly all had counted outstanding absentees. Most were expected to be finished by Friday.

 

A new AP count showed Webb with 1,172,538 votes and Allen with 1,165,302, a difference of 7,236. Virginia has had two statewide vote recounts in modern history, but both resulted in vote changes of no more than a few hundred votes.

 

There has still been no official announcement on a democratic victory in the Senate, and Allen has yet to announce a defeat, while Webb already announced his victory on the night of the elections.

 

Allen's campaign issued a statement noting that state officials are conducting a canvass of the votes cast in Tuesday's balloting.

 

"At the conclusion of those efforts, Senator George Allen plans to make a statement regarding the outcome," it said.

 

A democratic victory in Virginia will turn Democratic Sen. Harry Reid of Nevada into the leader of the Democratic majority in the Senate, after two years of serving as minority leader at the Capitol Hill.

 

AP contributed to the report

 


פרסום ראשון: 11.09.06, 09:16
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