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| Virginia key to US Senate control | Virginia key to US Senate control |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| The balance of power of the US Senate now depends on the state of Virginia after a Democratic victory was confirmed in Montana. | The balance of power of the US Senate now depends on the state of Virginia after a Democratic victory was confirmed in Montana. |
| If the Democrats - who have already won control of the House of Representatives - maintain their narrow lead there, they will win control of the Senate. | If the Democrats - who have already won control of the House of Representatives - maintain their narrow lead there, they will win control of the Senate. |
| But with the vote considered too close to call, there is a possibility of a recount in Virginia. | But with the vote considered too close to call, there is a possibility of a recount in Virginia. |
| This would mean the result of the election could be unclear for days. | This would mean the result of the election could be unclear for days. |
| Democrat Jim Webb has claimed victory in Virginia with a lead of 0.3 percentage points over incumbent George Allen, but counting there continues. | Democrat Jim Webb has claimed victory in Virginia with a lead of 0.3 percentage points over incumbent George Allen, but counting there continues. |
| VIRGINIA VOTE Jim Webb (D): 1,170,564George Allen (R): 1,162,719 Results map: Virginia | VIRGINIA VOTE Jim Webb (D): 1,170,564George Allen (R): 1,162,719 Results map: Virginia |
| "The votes are in and we won," said Mr Webb, a former Naval Secretary under Ronald Reagan who later became a Democrat. | "The votes are in and we won," said Mr Webb, a former Naval Secretary under Ronald Reagan who later became a Democrat. |
| With 99% of the votes counted he has 49.6% against the incumbent's 49.3%. | With 99% of the votes counted he has 49.6% against the incumbent's 49.3%. |
| Mr Allen had been expected to win the state - in which he was once governor - easily. | Mr Allen had been expected to win the state - in which he was once governor - easily. |
| But his campaign suffered after he was caught on video calling a man of Indian descent a "macaca" - a macaca is a genus of monkey. | But his campaign suffered after he was caught on video calling a man of Indian descent a "macaca" - a macaca is a genus of monkey. |
| Corruption allegations | |
| In Montana, counting was delayed after officials in Yellowstone, the state's largest county, decided to start counting all the votes again because of difficulties with the new equipment. | In Montana, counting was delayed after officials in Yellowstone, the state's largest county, decided to start counting all the votes again because of difficulties with the new equipment. |
| At mid-morning, Democrat Jon Tester held a thin 1,729 vote lead with 99% of the ballots counted. | |
| Just after midday local time (1700GMT) it was confirmed that he had taken the seat from incumbent Conrad Burns - a senator for 18 years. | |
| The Democrats had tried to paint Mr Burns as a symbol of what they called the Republican "culture of corruption", following revelations that he accepted $150,000 (£78,000) in donations from the convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff. | The Democrats had tried to paint Mr Burns as a symbol of what they called the Republican "culture of corruption", following revelations that he accepted $150,000 (£78,000) in donations from the convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff. |