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US mid-terms: Republicans make early Senate gains | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Initial results in the US mid-term elections show the Republican Party is making early gains in the Senate, where they need to win just six seats to take control of the chamber. | |
The party has already picked up two Senate seats in Arkansas and West Virginia, says the AP news agency. | |
The Republican Party leader in the Senate, Mitch McConnell, has retained his seat for Kentucky. | |
But the Democrats have held onto the key Senate seat of New Hampshire. | |
As polls close across the country, early results indicate a number of both Democratic and Republican Senate incumbents have held onto their seats. | |
Projections show Republicans have retained seats in Mississippi, Alabama, Maine, South Carolina, Oklahoma and Tennessee. | |
Democrats have retained seats in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Delaware and New Jersey. | |
As well as a third of the 100-seat Senate, all 435 members of the House of Representatives, 36 out of 50 state governors, and countless state and local offices are up for election. | As well as a third of the 100-seat Senate, all 435 members of the House of Representatives, 36 out of 50 state governors, and countless state and local offices are up for election. |
Early projections indicate the Republicans will increase their control over the House. | |
Throughout the campaign, the Democrats have battled to stay ahead as President Barack Obama's approval ratings fell to the lowest they have been since he was elected. | |
Many analysts have predicted a Republican victory as Mr Obama's popularity rate has failed to climb much above 40%, despite recent improvements in the economy. | |
"This is a referendum on the president," Republican senator and potential 2016 presidential candidate Rand Paul told NBC's Meet the Press at the weekend. | "This is a referendum on the president," Republican senator and potential 2016 presidential candidate Rand Paul told NBC's Meet the Press at the weekend. |
But Democrats say their proven ability to rally their supporters ahead of elections could still give them the advantage. | But Democrats say their proven ability to rally their supporters ahead of elections could still give them the advantage. |
"Grab everybody you know, get them out to vote, don't stay home, don't let somebody else choose your future for you," Mr Obama said during a campaign rally on Sunday. | "Grab everybody you know, get them out to vote, don't stay home, don't let somebody else choose your future for you," Mr Obama said during a campaign rally on Sunday. |
If the Republicans succeed in taking control of the Senate from the Democratic Party, Mitch McConnell is set to become the majority leader. | |
As the Republicans already have a convincing hold over the lower House of Representatives, a win in the Senate would give them the power to shut down Mr Obama's policies in the last two years of his term. | |
Aside from Mr Obama's unpopularity, there is no single issue that dominates this mid-term poll. | |
Instead voters will be swayed by a broad variety of concerns including the economy, the environment, immigration, foreign policy, abortion and healthcare. | |
The most competitive Senate races are expected to take place in the states of North Carolina, Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Iowa and Kansas. | |
Analysis: Jon Sopel, North America editor | Analysis: Jon Sopel, North America editor |
I have spoken to Democrats and Republicans and they all said the same thing - they were sick of the partisan posturing, the gridlock, the inability to work together, the dysfunctional relationship between Congress and White House, between legislature and executive. | I have spoken to Democrats and Republicans and they all said the same thing - they were sick of the partisan posturing, the gridlock, the inability to work together, the dysfunctional relationship between Congress and White House, between legislature and executive. |
All of which begs the question - what difference will it make if the Republicans do take control of the Senate? | All of which begs the question - what difference will it make if the Republicans do take control of the Senate? |
Some are predicting that it will be gridlock on steroids. In other words, just like before - only worse. | Some are predicting that it will be gridlock on steroids. In other words, just like before - only worse. |
Others, who've clearly read Voltaire's Candide and based their philosophy on the ever-optimistic Dr Pangloss, think we will go to the sunny uplands of politics. | Others, who've clearly read Voltaire's Candide and based their philosophy on the ever-optimistic Dr Pangloss, think we will go to the sunny uplands of politics. |
Will the US mid-term elections change anything? | Will the US mid-term elections change anything? |
Across the board, voters have expressed their dissatisfaction with both parties' inability to co-operate in Congress and the resulting gridlock this has caused. | |
Six Senate races to watch | Six Senate races to watch |
Guide to key Senate races | Guide to key Senate races |
Why vote matters | Why vote matters |
The BBC's Jane O'Brien in Arlington, Virginia, says a lot of money has been invested in the tightly-fought races, with some estimates suggesting $200m (£125m) was spent alone in the month of October. | |
Everything is to play for and the country is holding its breath, she adds. | |
Without the focus of a presidential campaign, the mid-terms - which are named because they fall in the middle of a presidential term - typically see a low voter turnout. | |
They also typically favour the party that is not in power. |