The Hindu : Democrat wins

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Dec 09, 2002

International

International

Democrat wins

By Sridhar Krishnaswami

Washington dec. 8. In spite of a fierce and determined challenge in Louisiana from the Grand Old Party, the Democratic Senator, Mary Landrieu, has managed to hold on to her seat giving her party a small comfort of sorts.

The fresh election in Louisiana has to do with the State laws there that mandate candidates in Congressional elections to get 50 plus one of the votes to win.

On November 5, several Republican candidates ran against Ms. Landrieu preventing her from getting that required margin of win. Hence the run off on December 7.

With the election in Louisiana now out of the way, the Republicans will have to be satisfied with 51 seats in the Senate and wresting that chamber for full control of Congress. The Democrats will have 49 seats in the Senate as the 108th Congress returns next month.

The GOP was hoping to get that extra seat in Louisiana for — apart from making history — the win would have helped the GOP in Committee assignments.

Without a doubt Ms. Landrieu was given a run for the money as the entire Republican machine headed by the President, George W Bush, had landed in the southern state throwing their collective weight on Suzzanne Terrell who ran a strong campaign and was helped by financial muscle, especially in the final stages.

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