Webb and Tester Win, Democrats Take Senate Too

Jim Webb

Jon Tester

RICHMOND, Va. (By Mimi Hall and Laura Parker, USA Today) November 9, 2006 — Democrat Jim Webb laid claim to a Virginia Senate seat Wednesday, but Republican Sen. George Allen refused to yield as elections workers across the state double-checked returns in a razor-close election.

The Associated Press declared Webb the winner late Wednesday after canvassing elections officials statewide. That result would leave Democrats with control of the Senate — and therefore the entire Congress. If Allen prevailed in a vote challenge, the houses would be split between the parties.

Both candidates kept quiet Wednesday after an emotional and frustrating election night that saw them trading miniscule leads hour-by-hour. Webb inched ahead at the very end, culminating a sometimes vicious campaign marked by character attacks and negative ads.

On Wednesday morning, Allen's supporters were quick to point out that Webb had an exceptionally thin lead — the Associated Press reported 7,236 votes separated the two out of 2.3 million cast, just three-tenths of 1%. Unofficial tallies on the Commonwealth of Virginia's website indicated late Tuesday that roughly 5% of precincts hadn't yet reported.

Michael Traugott, a University of Michigan political science professor who worked for the now-defunct Voter News Service, pointed out that the AP relied on actual votes for its call, not exit polls. That, he said, is reassuring.

But Traugott said he is concerned that about half the localities contacted by the AP had not completed their canvassing. He said the political leanings of those localities are crucial in determining whether the call for Webb was a smart one.

Former Virginia governor Mark Warner, a Democrat, declared that Webb "will be a great addition to the United States Senate."

And in a page from President Bush's political playbook from the contested 2000 election, Webb took steps to try to seize victory before it had been officially declared. Early in the day Wednesday he named three members of his transition team, and his campaign headquarters staff started referring to him as "Senator-elect."

Even after the Associated Press called the race in Webb's favor, Allen said he wouldn't back down until a canvassing effort by state officials was over.

"At the conclusion of those efforts, Senator George Allen plans to make a statement regarding the outcome," read a statement released by the Allen campaign.

Allen adviser Ed Gillespie said Allen picked up nearly 1,500 votes that had inadvertently been awarded to Webb in one county.

Allen's "mood is realistic," Gillespie said of the one-term senator who saw a solid lead evaporate in August amid charges of racism. But "obviously when you're operating with a margin of three-tenths of 1%, there's reason for hope."

Once the canvassing operation is complete, the state's elections board will prepare to meet on Nov. 27 to certify the election. Only after that can the presumed loser request a recount.

Gillespie wouldn't say whether Allen would demand a recount.

"It's conceivable to me that on Nov. 27, you'll be asking Mr. Webb whether he will be seeking a recount," he said.

No candidate who has gone into a statewide recount ahead by several thousand votes has ever come out on the losing end when it was over, Warner said.

U.S. Sen. Conrad Burns also conceded defeat to Jon Tester on Thursday, acknowledging that a tight election had gone to the Democrats' favor, Burns' campaign told The Associated Press.

Burns, a three-term senator whose campaign was troubled by verbal gaffes and voter discontent, congratulated Tester, a farmer and state legislator.

"I stand ready to help as Montana transitions to a new United States Senator," Burns said in a statement provided to the AP. "We fought the good fight and we came up just a bit short. We've had a good 18 years and I am proud of my record."

Burns, 71, did not plan any public appearances Thursday, his campaign said.

Burns did not give any indication of what he plans to do now, though he indicated he was looking forward to taking some time off. "I hope there is still a good-sized buck out there, because I am going hunting," he wrote.