POWER STRUGGLE

	November 8, 2000
	Kwame Holman reports on the results of House and Senate races.

JIM LEHRER: The races for the House and Senate also provided their share of the unusual. Kwame Holman reports. KWAME HOLMAN: Senate Republicans have held at least an eight-seat majority throughout this Congress. The numbers enabled them to initiatives sponsored by the Democrats. But conversely Democrats held just enough seats to delay and in some cases derail some Republican proposals. The result for the most part was mutual frustration. SPOKESMAN: There will not be cooperation unless we understand that the minority has to have its rights too. SPOKESMAN: I'm not going to be threatened and intimidated by the minority in trying to get our work done. KWAME HOLMAN: The results of yesterday's elections only sharpened the party division in the Senate. Democrats lost two seats but more than offset that by picking up five seats held by Republicans. SPOKESMAN: We are now 49 Democrats strong in the Senate. And we fully expect to be an historic 50/50 with the election of Maria Cantwell in Washington State. KWAME HOLMAN: This afternoon the votes still were being counted in Washington State where former House Member Maria Cantwell, the Democrat, held a thin but steady lead over the three-term Republican incumbent Slade Gorton. Hillary Clinton was the clear winner in the most anticipated Senate matchup. She defeated Long Island Congressman Lazio to maintain the Democrats' hold on the New York Senate seat being vacated by the retiring Daniel Patrick Moynihan. She becomes the only First Lady to win elective office. HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON: We started this great effort on a sunny July morning in Pinders Corner on Pat and Liz Moynihan's beautiful farm and 62 counties, 16 months, three debates, two opponents, and six black pantsuits later, because of you, here we are. KWAME HOLMAN: The Democratic candidate in the Missouri Senate race, Mel Carnahan, was killed in a plane crash three weeks ago. Nonetheless, voters narrowly chose him over Republican incumbent John Ashcroft. It's expected Carnahan's widow, Jean, will be appointed to serve in the Senate for two years when a special election will be held. This afternoon, Ashcroft wished Carnahan well and said he would not challenge the unprecedented result in court. ASHCROFT: I'll discourage others from challenging the will of the people in the election of their United States Senator. I will not initiate any legal challenge. And will not participate in any legal challenge. KWAME HOLMAN: In Michigan, House Democratic Debbie Stabenow ousted Spencer Abraham after his one term in office. And in Minnesota, rod grams lost to Democrat and multimillionaire Mark Dayton. SPOKESPERSON: Good evening, new jersey! KWAME HOLMAN: Former Goldman Sachs investment CEO John Corzine spent $60 million - most of it his own money -- to defeat House Republican Bob Francs in the race to succeed the retiring Democrat Frank Lautenberg. Former Republican Governor George Allen defeated Democratic incumbent Chuck Robb in Virginia. And former Governor Tom Carper defeated Republican incumbent William Roth in Delaware. In Nebraska, former Democratic Governor Ben Nelson narrowly out-polled State Attorney General Don Stenberg to replace retiring Democrat Bob Kerrey. SPOKESMAN: Good evening, Florida! KWAME HOLMAN: Florida state insurance commissioner Bill Nelson, a Democrat, defeated House Republican and former impeachment manager Bill McCullom in their race to succeed retiring Republican Connie Mack. This afternoon, Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle said the gains made by Democrats don't have to mean more conflict with Republicans. SEN. TOM DASCHLE: Power sharing is a unique concept. We recognize and I hope they recognize that the only way the Congress will accomplish anything is through bipartisanship. It simply will not occur in any other way. They don't have the votes, we don't have the votes, and I think that realization could actually change this. KWAME HOLMAN: In the House of Representatives, Democrats needed to gain seven seats to take majority control away from Republicans. It appears they picked up only one. The new House will have 222 Republicans, 211 Democrats, and two independents. Also speaking this afternoon Virginia's Tom Davis, head of the Republicans Congressional Committee, said Democrats missed their chance. TOM DAVIS: The Democrats took their once in a generation opportunity and a chance to win back control of the House; they fell short. I think what you are going to see is in the coming months Democrats will face a steep electoral challenge in redistricting, and a wave of potential retirements in their ranks. Several House Democrats have already signaled that they are pondering crossing lines to join our ranks. We will welcome these Democrats with open arms. KWAME HOLMAN: Among the fewer incumbents to lose their reelection bids were Democrats David Mingy of Minnesota and Sam Gejdensen of Connecticut. The most notable Republican loser was James Rogan of California, also a former House impeachment manager. Rogan lost to Democratic State Senator Adam Schiff in a race that cost more than $10 million. Davis said Republicans limited their losses yesterday by employing a better strategy than their opponents. DAVIS: Democrats had a cookie cutter message they tried to take into every district in the country. It played in some districts, it didn't play... We put together - we tried to recruit candidates that fit the districts. We had a different victory matrix in each of the targeted areas. Instead of allowing the Democrats to nationalize the elections, the way they did in the Senate races, we ran a series of local special elections. That was our strategy from the get-go. I think it worked. I think it prevailed. And that is why I think we probably over performed. TERENCE SMITH: The new House and the newly elected senators will be sworn into office in January.