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US Republican wave sweeps Democrats from House
Source: Agencies |
November 3, 2010, Wednesday
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DISENCHANTED US voters swept Democrats from power in the House of Representatives and bolstered the ranks of Senate Republicans yesterday in an election rout that dealt a sharp rebuke to President Barack Obama.
Two years after Obama swept into the White House, voter anxiety about the economy and discontent with his leadership fueled big Republican gains that toppled Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi from power and ushered in a new era of divided government.
Television networks projected Republicans would pick up at least 50 House seats, more than the 39 they need for a majority that would elevate conservative John Boehner to House speaker and slam the brakes on Obama's agenda.
It was the biggest shift in power since the 1994 Republican landslide gave them a 54-seat House gain when Democratic President Bill Clinton was in power.
Republican control of even one chamber of Congress would likely spark legislative gridlock, weakening Obama's hand in fights over the extension of soon-to-expire income-tax cuts and the passage of comprehensive energy or immigration bills.
"The newly elected crop of House and Senate Republicans will see their mission as not to compromise and cut deals with President Obama, but rather to destroy his remaining agenda and undo healthcare and financial services reform," said Ethan Siegal, an analyst with the Washington Exchange, a public policy advisory group.
US stock index futures turned negative as Republican chances of capturing the Senate waned. Stocks had pushed higher on Tuesday on hopes Congress would become more conservative and business-friendly.
In a sign of Republican confidence, the No. 2 House Republican Eric Cantor said in prepared remarks to supporters: "We will repeal the trillion-dollar healthcare bill ... We will get to work right away to reduce the deficit by cutting federal spending next year."
In the Senate, Democrats held the late Robert Byrd's seat in West Virginia and appeared likely to retain at least a narrow Senate majority.
Republicans picked up three Democratic seats in Indiana, North Dakota and Arkansas, but needed to sweep six crucial toss-up Senate races, including those in Democratic-leaning California and Washington, to seize majority control.
All 435 House seats, 37 of the 100 Senate seats, and 37 of the 50 state governorships are at stake in yesterday's voting.
Florida Republican Marco Rubio and Kentucky Republican Rand Paul became the first Tea Party-backed candidates to win Senate seats, ensuring an influx of conservative views in the staid chamber. Another Tea Party favorite, Republican Christine O'Donnell in Delaware, lost her race.
TEA PARTY RISES
Anger over government spending and economic weakness gave rise to the Tea Party, a loosely organized conservative movement that backs smaller government and lower taxes.
"We have come to take our government back," Paul told supporters in Kentucky.
Television networks reported their exit polls showed voters were deeply worried about the economy, with eight in every 10 voters saying it was a chief concern, and unhappy with Obama. Four of every 10 voters said they supported the Tea Party.
Obama will hold a news conference at 1 p.m. EDT (1700 GMT) on Wednesday to talk about the post-election landscape.
Republican candidates have pushed an agenda of spending cuts and at least a partial repeal of Obama's healthcare and Wall Street reforms, but Obama could veto their efforts.
Voters yesterday also weighed in on a variety of topics: in California, for example, they could approve a measure that would legalize possession of marijuana.
In perhaps the country's most high-profile race, Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid is embroiled in a neck-and-neck re-election fight with Tea Party favorite Sharron Angle in Nevada. The race could hinge on how many voters pick the "none of the above" option on the Nevada ballot.
Two years after Obama swept into the White House, voter anxiety about the economy and discontent with his leadership fueled big Republican gains that toppled Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi from power and ushered in a new era of divided government.
Television networks projected Republicans would pick up at least 50 House seats, more than the 39 they need for a majority that would elevate conservative John Boehner to House speaker and slam the brakes on Obama's agenda.
It was the biggest shift in power since the 1994 Republican landslide gave them a 54-seat House gain when Democratic President Bill Clinton was in power.
Republican control of even one chamber of Congress would likely spark legislative gridlock, weakening Obama's hand in fights over the extension of soon-to-expire income-tax cuts and the passage of comprehensive energy or immigration bills.
"The newly elected crop of House and Senate Republicans will see their mission as not to compromise and cut deals with President Obama, but rather to destroy his remaining agenda and undo healthcare and financial services reform," said Ethan Siegal, an analyst with the Washington Exchange, a public policy advisory group.
US stock index futures turned negative as Republican chances of capturing the Senate waned. Stocks had pushed higher on Tuesday on hopes Congress would become more conservative and business-friendly.
In a sign of Republican confidence, the No. 2 House Republican Eric Cantor said in prepared remarks to supporters: "We will repeal the trillion-dollar healthcare bill ... We will get to work right away to reduce the deficit by cutting federal spending next year."
In the Senate, Democrats held the late Robert Byrd's seat in West Virginia and appeared likely to retain at least a narrow Senate majority.
Republicans picked up three Democratic seats in Indiana, North Dakota and Arkansas, but needed to sweep six crucial toss-up Senate races, including those in Democratic-leaning California and Washington, to seize majority control.
All 435 House seats, 37 of the 100 Senate seats, and 37 of the 50 state governorships are at stake in yesterday's voting.
Florida Republican Marco Rubio and Kentucky Republican Rand Paul became the first Tea Party-backed candidates to win Senate seats, ensuring an influx of conservative views in the staid chamber. Another Tea Party favorite, Republican Christine O'Donnell in Delaware, lost her race.
TEA PARTY RISES
Anger over government spending and economic weakness gave rise to the Tea Party, a loosely organized conservative movement that backs smaller government and lower taxes.
"We have come to take our government back," Paul told supporters in Kentucky.
Television networks reported their exit polls showed voters were deeply worried about the economy, with eight in every 10 voters saying it was a chief concern, and unhappy with Obama. Four of every 10 voters said they supported the Tea Party.
Obama will hold a news conference at 1 p.m. EDT (1700 GMT) on Wednesday to talk about the post-election landscape.
Republican candidates have pushed an agenda of spending cuts and at least a partial repeal of Obama's healthcare and Wall Street reforms, but Obama could veto their efforts.
Voters yesterday also weighed in on a variety of topics: in California, for example, they could approve a measure that would legalize possession of marijuana.
In perhaps the country's most high-profile race, Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid is embroiled in a neck-and-neck re-election fight with Tea Party favorite Sharron Angle in Nevada. The race could hinge on how many voters pick the "none of the above" option on the Nevada ballot.
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