'The days of obstruction are over'

Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, walk off stage after the president-elect gave his victory speech in Chicago.

WASHINGTON // For the second election in a row, the Democrats reinforced their hold on the House of Representatives but fell short of a Senate supermajority, a result that will oblige Barack Obama to fulfil an election-night pledge of bipartisanship. The Democrats had hoped to secure 60 seats in the Senate that would have given the new president a free hand on legislation. However, early results showed them reaching 57, giving the Republicans the ability to stall measures they regard as too radical. That did little to dent the euphoria among millions of supporters who greeted Mr Obama's historic win and the Democrats' sweeping victories across the country. Some congressional races were still undecided yesterday morning and while some Democrats hoped for as many as 59 seats, others thought 57 seats a more realistic possibility, a number they last held under Bill Clinton in 1993-1994 and stronger than their Bush-era 51-49 majority gained in 2006 midterm elections. "The days of obstruction are over," said Charles Schumer, the senator of New York and the chairman of the Democratic senatorial campaign committee. "And in a bipartisan way, we in the Senate and our colleagues in the House will work together to turn America in the right direction after eight long years." In the past few years, Republicans have often resorted to filibusters - delaying or blocking legislation by endlessly debating on the Senate floor. In these circumstances, 60 votes are required to force a vote. Mr Obama's Senate majority can now probably be boosted by votes from moderate Republicans on significant bills and judicial appointments. In the House of Representatives, the Democrats seized at least 15 seats and final results could show a tally of about 20, building on their previous control of a 235-199 majority with one vacancy. Democrats rejected the idea that Mr Obama would be pushed away from the centre into a left-liberal agenda as some Republicans have claimed. "Obama will stay close to the centre. The last time the Democrats had wide majorities was under [former president Jimmy] Carter, and that turned out horribly," said George Cook, who works on government affairs for a trade association. "I think the Democrats have learnt from the Republicans, who went rightwards with their majorities and look where they are now." He was at a party organised by the Democratic National Committee at Washington's Mayflower hotel, where supporters were palpably nervous before results started flowing in on Tuesday night. "It's not easily digestible by the masses but we're in economic collapse even if the experts aren't calling it a recession yet and there's a lot of work to do," said Estuardo Rodriguez, a principal of the Raben Group, a lobbying consultancy that specialises in Latino issues. Economic crisis, and wars in Iran and Afghanistan, leave Mr Obama little room for manoeuvre if he is to come good on his promises of tax cuts for the middle class. But Mr Obama might be able to exert control over any potentially wayward senators or representatives because many owe their election to him. Harry Reid, the Democrats' Senate majority leader, attributed the party's gains to Mr Obama. "It's been a really good night," he told the Associated Press. "Obama ran a terrific campaign, he inspired millions of people." Democrats captured at least five Senate seats in Virginia, Colorado, New Mexico, New Hampshire and North Carolina. But the Democrats failed to dislodge Kentucky's Mitch McConnell, the Senate Republican leader, who beat Bruce Lunsford. "Winston Churchill once said the most exhilarating feeling in life is to be shot at - and missed," Mr McConnell said in a victory speech. "After the last few months, I think what he really meant to say is that there's nothing more exhausting." Notable Republican defeats included John E Sununu of New Hampshire, who was beaten by Jeanne Shaheen. Ms Shaheen became the first female senator in New Hampshire's history. In North Carolina, Elizabeth Dole, the wife of a former presidential hopeful, Robert Dole, was defeated by Kay Hagan after a bitter campaign that saw claims and counter-claims of a lack of religious faith fly between the two women. Mark Warner, a popular former governor of Virginia, won that state's second Senate seat and easily beat James S Gilmore, another former governor. While the Democrats made big wins across Virginia, which had been staunchly Republican since 1964, it was not enough to help Sam Rasoul, a young Palestinian American. He had hoped to win election to the House of Representatives but was beaten by Robert Goodlatte, the long-time Republican incumbent in Virginia's sixth district. Another Senate race that attracted media attention and was still being contested last night in Minnesota was between Democrat Al Franken, a former comedian on Saturday Night Live, and Norm Coleman. Mr Franken demanded a recount after the result showed him within 600 votes of the Republican incumbent. Another unknown was whether the Democrats had managed to dislodge Ted Stevens, the long-time Alaska senator, who was recently convicted in federal court on felony charges of failing to disclose gifts from political supporters. Polls favoured Democrat Mark Begich, the mayor of Anchorage. Another issue to be decided by the new Congress, which will convene after inauguration in January, is the future of Joseph Lieberman, the Democratic senator of Connecticut. Although he has helped to bolster the Democrats in some votes, on others - such as Iraq - he has sided with Mr Bush and he campaigned strenuously for John McCain, the defeated Republican presidential candidate. It was unclear whether Mr Lieberman would remain in the Democratic fold. Some party members want him stripped of his post as chairman of the homeland security committee. Mr Reid said he would discuss the matter with him this week. [e-mail]