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| Democrats foil GOP hopes in Senate as Congress remains divided | Democrats foil GOP hopes in Senate as Congress remains divided |
| (7 days later) | |
| American were waking up on Wednesday to a political system still divided, with power in Congress split as the Democrats pushed back Republican attempts to take control of the Senate as well as the House of Representatives. | American were waking up on Wednesday to a political system still divided, with power in Congress split as the Democrats pushed back Republican attempts to take control of the Senate as well as the House of Representatives. |
| As results from hundreds of congressional races were declared, and vote were still being counted, it became clear that a Republican surge, which had seemed highly likely just a few months ago, had foundered. | As results from hundreds of congressional races were declared, and vote were still being counted, it became clear that a Republican surge, which had seemed highly likely just a few months ago, had foundered. |
| The Democrats even extended their previous grip on the Senate by picking up at least two seats overall as Republicans shed two. On Wednesday morning, Democratic Senator Jon Tester held onto his seat in Montana. | The Democrats even extended their previous grip on the Senate by picking up at least two seats overall as Republicans shed two. On Wednesday morning, Democratic Senator Jon Tester held onto his seat in Montana. |
| That was followed a few hours later when Republican Rick Berg conceded defeat to Heidi Heitkamp in the North Dakota Senate race, which the GOP had been confident of winning following the retirement of Democrat Kent Conrad. | That was followed a few hours later when Republican Rick Berg conceded defeat to Heidi Heitkamp in the North Dakota Senate race, which the GOP had been confident of winning following the retirement of Democrat Kent Conrad. |
| Meanwhile, Republicans were certain to stay the dominant party in the House. That represented a major victory for Republican speaker John Boehner, who fended off Democrats despite a widespread belief that he and his House colleagues were too rightwing to remain popular. | Meanwhile, Republicans were certain to stay the dominant party in the House. That represented a major victory for Republican speaker John Boehner, who fended off Democrats despite a widespread belief that he and his House colleagues were too rightwing to remain popular. |
| "Ultimately, it does not really change a whole lot. Congress remains split, though the Democrats holding onto the Senate means it is a good night for them," said Professor David Cohen, a political scientist at the University of Akron. | "Ultimately, it does not really change a whole lot. Congress remains split, though the Democrats holding onto the Senate means it is a good night for them," said Professor David Cohen, a political scientist at the University of Akron. |
| The divided Congress effectively reduces the election to almost a non-event when it comes to setting policy, and presents an immediate challenge to the second-term prospects of Barack Obama. He will have to find ways of working with a House Republican caucus – a goal that consistently eluded him in his first term. | The divided Congress effectively reduces the election to almost a non-event when it comes to setting policy, and presents an immediate challenge to the second-term prospects of Barack Obama. He will have to find ways of working with a House Republican caucus – a goal that consistently eluded him in his first term. |
| Immediate attention focused on the "fiscal cliff", a mix of deep spending cuts and tax hikes that are set to come into effect at the end of the year if the White House and Congress do not come to a deal over reducing the deficit. | Immediate attention focused on the "fiscal cliff", a mix of deep spending cuts and tax hikes that are set to come into effect at the end of the year if the White House and Congress do not come to a deal over reducing the deficit. |
| Some fear a failure to come to any agreement will spark such deep cuts and tax hikes that it will stymie growth and threaten a return to recession. | Some fear a failure to come to any agreement will spark such deep cuts and tax hikes that it will stymie growth and threaten a return to recession. |
| But if the status quo was maintained overall in the Capitol, some new heroes and villains were thrown up by the results. In Massachusetts, former Wall Street reform campaigner Elizabeth Warren beat one-time Republican darling Scott Brown. Warren became the first woman senator from the state and brought Ted Kennedy's old Senate back into Democratic control. | But if the status quo was maintained overall in the Capitol, some new heroes and villains were thrown up by the results. In Massachusetts, former Wall Street reform campaigner Elizabeth Warren beat one-time Republican darling Scott Brown. Warren became the first woman senator from the state and brought Ted Kennedy's old Senate back into Democratic control. |
| In Connecticut, Democrat Chris Murphy beat off a Republican challenge from former wrestling executive Linda McMahon in a seat vacated by former independent Joe Lieberman. McMahon had spent almost $100m on this race and a previous Senate contest two years ago, which she also lost. | In Connecticut, Democrat Chris Murphy beat off a Republican challenge from former wrestling executive Linda McMahon in a seat vacated by former independent Joe Lieberman. McMahon had spent almost $100m on this race and a previous Senate contest two years ago, which she also lost. |
| In Virginia, a closely fought election pitted two former governors against each other and the Democrat, Tim Kaine, beat out the Republican, George Allen. | In Virginia, a closely fought election pitted two former governors against each other and the Democrat, Tim Kaine, beat out the Republican, George Allen. |
| Two previously unexpected Republican Senate losses came in the shape of resounding defeats of for a brace of politicians who had made tone-deaf comments about deaf and abortion during their election campaigns. | Two previously unexpected Republican Senate losses came in the shape of resounding defeats of for a brace of politicians who had made tone-deaf comments about deaf and abortion during their election campaigns. |
| In Missouri, Todd Akin's statements about "legitimate rape", and his belief that raped women's bodies could naturally prevent a pregnancy, were resoundingly punished at the polls. Akin's resulting infamy, and his refusal to obey party leaders and step out of the race, ended in a resounding defeat to the previously vulnerable Democratic incumbent Claire McCaskill. | In Missouri, Todd Akin's statements about "legitimate rape", and his belief that raped women's bodies could naturally prevent a pregnancy, were resoundingly punished at the polls. Akin's resulting infamy, and his refusal to obey party leaders and step out of the race, ended in a resounding defeat to the previously vulnerable Democratic incumbent Claire McCaskill. |
| Meanwhile, in Indiana, Republican Senate hopeful Richard Mourdock paid the price of musing during the campaign whether pregnancies resulting from rape were somehow the will of God. He ended up losing a seat that had been Republican since 1977 to Democratic challenger Joe Donnelly, a previous no-hoper and now a US senator. | Meanwhile, in Indiana, Republican Senate hopeful Richard Mourdock paid the price of musing during the campaign whether pregnancies resulting from rape were somehow the will of God. He ended up losing a seat that had been Republican since 1977 to Democratic challenger Joe Donnelly, a previous no-hoper and now a US senator. |
| But a new rightwing Republican hero also emerged. Ted Cruz, a conservative Hispanic and favourite of the Tea Party, easily triumphed over his Democratic rival Paul Sadler in Texas. | But a new rightwing Republican hero also emerged. Ted Cruz, a conservative Hispanic and favourite of the Tea Party, easily triumphed over his Democratic rival Paul Sadler in Texas. |
| The Senate also revealed its independent streak – a rare thing in a US political system so dominated by the two main parties. In Vermont, Bernie Sanders, who runs as an independent but defines himself as a democratic socialist, easily won re-election. In Maine independent former governor Angus King won a former Republican seat. He is expected to caucus with Democrats, like Sanders, but has not confirmed that yet. | The Senate also revealed its independent streak – a rare thing in a US political system so dominated by the two main parties. In Vermont, Bernie Sanders, who runs as an independent but defines himself as a democratic socialist, easily won re-election. In Maine independent former governor Angus King won a former Republican seat. He is expected to caucus with Democrats, like Sanders, but has not confirmed that yet. |
| In the House, however, Republicans fared much better. There were a few losses to Tea Party candidates as controversial Florida congressman Allen West, who once called Democrats "communists", appeared to have lost his district by a tiny sliver to Democrat Patrick Murphy. | In the House, however, Republicans fared much better. There were a few losses to Tea Party candidates as controversial Florida congressman Allen West, who once called Democrats "communists", appeared to have lost his district by a tiny sliver to Democrat Patrick Murphy. |
| Minnesota congressman Michelle Bachmann, a Tea Party heroine and former presidential hopeful, won her seat but only by a slim margin. | Minnesota congressman Michelle Bachmann, a Tea Party heroine and former presidential hopeful, won her seat but only by a slim margin. |
| But overall, the Republican House candidates performed better than expectations, dealing a blow to any Democratic hopes that they might recapture the chamber which they lost in the 2010 mid-terms as the Tea Party swept many of its members into office. | But overall, the Republican House candidates performed better than expectations, dealing a blow to any Democratic hopes that they might recapture the chamber which they lost in the 2010 mid-terms as the Tea Party swept many of its members into office. |
| Although by early Wednesday morning the Republicans had lost 12 members, they had also picked off nine Democrats. With more than 90% of the 435 House races called, Republicans had won 227 seats and were leading in nine more. For a majority in the chamber, a party must control 218 seats. Democrats had won 176 seats and were leading in 21 others. | Although by early Wednesday morning the Republicans had lost 12 members, they had also picked off nine Democrats. With more than 90% of the 435 House races called, Republicans had won 227 seats and were leading in nine more. For a majority in the chamber, a party must control 218 seats. Democrats had won 176 seats and were leading in 21 others. |
| Boehner was quick to declare victory and used it as an opportunity to claim that the American electorate had delivered him a mandate to oppose any tax rises. That will put him in direct conflict with Obama, part of whose campaign agenda was based on getting America's wealthy to increase their tax contributions. | Boehner was quick to declare victory and used it as an opportunity to claim that the American electorate had delivered him a mandate to oppose any tax rises. That will put him in direct conflict with Obama, part of whose campaign agenda was based on getting America's wealthy to increase their tax contributions. |
| "The American people want solutions, and tonight they responded by renewing our House Republican majority. The American people also made clear there's no mandate for raising tax rates," he told a gathering of Republican politicians in Washington DC. | "The American people want solutions, and tonight they responded by renewing our House Republican majority. The American people also made clear there's no mandate for raising tax rates," he told a gathering of Republican politicians in Washington DC. |
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