KEY POINTS:
GREAT FALLS, Montana - Democrat Jon Tester declared victory over Republican Sen. Conrad Burns in Montana today in a close contest, but the incumbent declined to concede in a race crucial to control of the US Senate.
"We won this thing," Tester, the state senate president and organic farmer, told a Great Falls news conference.
US media called the election for Tester even as some results continued to be tallied after a night of uncertainty.
"Jon Tester ran a good race and has the lead right now, but it is extremely close," Burns said in a statement. "There are still votes out there that deserve to be counted."
"I believe we need to continue to let that process play itself out and there is no need to rush to a conclusion when the votes are this close."
A Democratic win in Montana would give the party 50 seats in the 100-seat US Senate, with the only undecided contest in Virginia.
"It's over," Democratic Gov. Brian Schweitzer, who campaigned for Tester, said by telephone. Burns is "no longer a US senator come January."
Incumbent Burns, first elected in 1988, was tainted by links to convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff and his campaign was marred by several gaffes. Montanans have traditionally voted Republican.
Updated unofficial results from the Montana secretary of state's office said Tester won 176,857 votes, compared to 175,059 for Burns.
A recount would be allowed if the margin of victory in the official Montana tally is 0.5 per cent or less of votes cast - a possibility given the tight contest.
Tester said he had not heard from Burns and did not know if the Republican would push for a recount.
- REUTERS
