Democrats gain in both houses, but appear short of their Senate dream
With Republican senators Ted Stevens, Norm Coleman and Saxby Chambliss holding narrow leads in their reelection bids, the chances of Democrats gaining a filibuster-proof 60 seats seem slim.
Reporting from Washington — Even after his conviction on corruption charges, Sen. Ted Stevens, the longest-serving Republican senator and a political institution in Alaska, was holding onto his seat, though barely, as Democrats strengthened their grip on Congress in Tuesday's elections.
Democrats toppled Republican Sens. Elizabeth Dole and John Sununu, expanding their majorities in the House and Senate, but they appeared likely to fail in their bid for the biggest prize on Capitol Hill: a filibuster-proof majority in the Senate.
Stevens, a senator since 1968, was narrowly ahead of Democrat Mark Begich, but more ballots still need to be counted.
It was possible the outcome would not be known for 15 days, the time that state elections officials have to tally the official results. Stevens was leading Begich, mayor of Anchorage, by about 3,300 votes, or 48% to 46.5%.
The 84-year-old Stevens, combative and defiant, went on TV the night before the election vowing to appeal his conviction on corruption charges. "Sometimes innocent men are found guilty. This is one of those times," Stevens said.
If he wins the election, Stevens is expected to face an effort by his Senate colleagues to expel him. The chamber has not expelled a member since 1862.
Stevens' possible reelection has fueled speculation that if he resigns or is expelled, Alaska's newest political star, Gov. Sarah Palin, this year's Republican vice presidential nominee, would seek to succeed him.
In the House, Democrats gained at least 17 seats, with fewer than 10 seats remaining undecided. They hoped to become the first party in more than half a century to make a net gain of 20 or more seats in back-to-back elections.
In the Senate, they took at least five Republican-held seats, increasing their majority to at least 56 seats. Four other contests, including Alaska's, remained undecided early today.
Sixty votes are needed to break a filibuster. But with a larger majority, Democrats should be able to peel off enough Republican votes to achieve many priorities.
Democrats benefited from Obama's coattails and a strategy that sought to tie Republicans to the deeply unpopular President Bush at a time of economic hardship. As a result, no Democratic-held Senate seat appeared in danger.
In North Carolina, Democrat Kay Hagan, who as a Capitol intern years ago operated the senators' elevator, defeated Dole, a big-name Republican who was once considered a shoo-in for reelection. In New Hampshire, Democrat Jeanne Shaheen turned out Sununu.
