Thread: Democratic Takeover Discussion

Allen concedes, giving Senate control to Dems

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Republican Sen. George Allen of Virginia conceded defeat Thursday afternoon to Democratic challenger Jim Webb, giving Democrats control of the Senate.

"My friends, sometimes winds -- political or otherwise -- can blow the limbs off branches or break limbs. But a deep-rooted tree will keep growing," Allen said from Alexandria, Virginia, with his wife, Susan, and young daughter, Brooke, by his side.

"The people of Virginia have spoken, and I respect their decision. The Bible teaches us there is a time and place for everything, and today I called and congratulated Jim Webb." (Watch Sen. Allen concede -- 4:29 Video)

Webb's win marks the first time the Democrats have snared 51 votes they needed to control the Senate since May 2001. The GOP regained the majority in the Senate after the 2002 midterm elections.

Webb, a former Navy secretary in the Reagan administration, has scheduled an appearance with reporters at 4:15 p.m. ET Thursday.

A few minutes after Allen's concession, top Democrats gathered near Capital Hill.

Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada told a roaring crowd, "The election's over. It's time for a change. It's time for bipartisanship, it's time for open government, transparency, and it's a time for results."

New York Sen. Charles Schumer said, "Will we stand up to the president when we think he is wrong? Yes. But our real mission is to work together and help the American family and make a better America, and we pledge today that we will never lose sight of that, our true mission."

Even before today's concession, Republicans were resigned to facing a Democratic majority next year, one GOP member said Thursday.

"I think if you ask any Republican in Congress right now, they're working under the assumption that they'll be in the minority in both the House and the Senate," Sen. John Sununu of New Hampshire said.

Allen trailed Webb by 8,805 votes Thursday afternoon in the last unsettled race of the 33 Senate contests on Tuesday's ballots, the Virginia State Board of Elections announced.

That margin grew from a roughly 7,200-vote gap Wednesday afternoon after 55 of Virginia's 134 electoral districts completed their canvasses of the results.

Webb declared victory early Wednesday, and The Associated Press declared him the winner Wednesday night.

Webb's win puts the new Senate lineup at 49 Democrats, 49 Republicans and two independents -- Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Joe Lieberman of Connecticut, who have said they would caucus with the Democrats.

Democratic challengers knocked off five other Republican incumbents in Tuesday's Senate races and won 29 seats in the House to claim control of that chamber for the first time since 1994.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/11/...ate/index.html