GOP still controls Congress but faces struggle

WASHINGTON - The Republicans' 'Grand Old Party' has retained power in Congress by extremely narrow margins, after a bitter struggle, raising questions about how effectively they can govern after two years of partisan acrimony and legislative gridlock.

Democrats appeared to pick up only one or two of the seven seats they needed to win back the House of Representatives and will fall just one or two seats short of claiming the Senate, despite slicing at least three seats off the Republicans' 54-46 majority.

The reduced margins of power, particularly in the Senate, could fuel deeper partisan battles and make it more difficult for a new President of either party to ram through his agenda or win approval of cabinet or even Supreme Court appointments.

"For all those who claim to be interested in bipartisanship, the next two years will be the ultimate test in the United States Senate," Democratic Senator Robert Torricelli, of New Jersey, said.

"No one will prevail alone. Things will only be accomplished if we genuinely work together."

Democrats won key victories in the Senate, electing first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton in New York and the late Governor Mel Carnahan over Republican incumbent John Ashcroft in Missouri. Carnahan's widow, Jean, will be appointed to fill his seat for two years until a special election. Ashcroft said he would not contest the results of the Missouri race in court and discouraged others from filing a challenge.

All 435 House seats and 34 of the 100 Senate seats were at stake in Wednesday's voting, and Republicans retained power in the House and Senate for four consecutive congressional sessions for the first time since the 1920s.

If Republican Texas Governor George W. Bush wins the presidency, it will be the first time since 1953 to 1955 that they control the White House, Senate and House.

But in the Senate, the balance of power could be the narrowest since Democrats held a one-seat margin in 1956, and could be a 50-50 split for the first time in history.

A 50-50 deadlock in the Senate would mean Republicans would keep control of the chamber either by virtue of Vice-President Dick Cheney's tiebreaking vote or because Democratic vice-presidential nominee Senator Joseph Lieberman's seat would go to a Republican.

Lieberman won re-election to his Senate seat in Connecticut, but if Gore wins the presidency, the state's Republican Governor is expected to name a Republican to fill Lieberman's seat.

- REUTERS

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