Democrat wins Washington state Senate race
Washington US Senator Patty Murray won a narrow victory Thursday, surviving voters' backlash against Democrats and ensuring that Barack Obama's party will keep 53 seats in the 100-seat chamber.
Murray, for whom Obama had campaigned, claimed victory over Republican Dino Rossi after three days of tallying, preserves breathing room for the Senate's shrunken Democratic majority. Republicans made inroads there Tuesday and took control of the House of Representatives for the rest of Obama's first term. (AP)
