Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - November 8, 2006, Winnipeg, Manitoba . Elections Winnipeg free press wednesday november 8, 2006 a5 democrats poised to take Over House Bush a rivals steal 15 seats in mid term vote by Beth Gorham w Ashington ? . Democrats were on the verge of con trolling the House of representatives tuesday night after grabbing 15 seats from republicans in High stakes midterm elections that could alter president George w. Bush a War time Agenda. A democratic majority in the House would be assured if they held on to All their own seats after having picked up at least 15 Republican districts to Domi Nate the lower chamber for the first time in 12 years. In the Senate democrats were Halfway to winning the six seats needed for a majority toppling republicans in Penn Sylvania Ohio and Rhode Island after a Nasty Campaign where scandals at Home and Bush a own falling popularity figured prominently. Hillary Rodham Clinton front runner for the 2008 democratic presidential nomination was easily re elected in new York. In the meantime social conservative Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania the no. 3 Republican in the Senate was dumped by a wide margin. Veteran senator Joe Lieberman an Iraq War supporter who was rejected by democrats in this years primary race won a new term in Connecticut As an Independent. Still hell Side with democrats in Washington. So far so Good said Democrat Charles Schumer who steered the sen ate election Campaign for the party. We really care about taking our country Back about changing the course in Iraq about helping average people pay the republicans were stoically optimistic to the end painting democrats As out of control spenders who would leave Iraq in a mess and make americans More vulnerable to terrorist attacks. They were buoyed by some late polls suggesting they had narrowed the Gap in National voter support that a favoured the democrats for weeks. But analysts predicted the last minute . Mid terms Are always a Tough slog for the dominant party in wartime. This years races have focused on the conflict in Iraq that skilled nearly 3,000 . Sol Diers. Also at stake in the elections Are 36 races for governor As Well As ballot Mea sures on Gay marriage embryonic Stem cell research the minimum wage and other issues. The Impact of the elections on Canada . Issues is unclear. Most observers expected More democrats on Capitol Hill would push to legalize imports of prescription drugs from Canada perhaps prompting Ottawa to move on Banning bulk exports. ? Canadian press Little Chance for Bush a priorities by Julie Hirschfeld Davis Washington ? democratic gains in tuesdays elections mean . Pres ident George w. Bush faces a bleaker Outlook for his last two years in office with Little Chance of securing Many of his priorities and Battles to Salvage key parts of his legacy. Bush who came off the 2004 elections boasting of his political capital now has the opposite Campaign results that reflect doubts about his policies and a rejection of some of his party a most powerful figures. From the War in Iraq to taxes the president will have to adapt to a new Power dynamic on Capitol Hill. Lame Duck he really does become a lame Duck said presidential historian George c. Edwards Iii of Texas am University. Its going to be a very difficult time for him to pass Signa Ture legislation and he a never shown much interest in compromising on his Bush often says he is unconcerned about How hell be remembered and his spokesman Tony Snow has said Bush is not really a legacy but the president has Laid out an ambitious to do list much of it at risk now. The Agenda and his legacy and the nature of this election is really wrapped up in Iraq said George Washington University a Stephen Hess a specialist on the presidency. They be got to make some very sub Stantial changes if there a any Chance for another Republican candidate to be elected president in 2008.? Bush already is facing the classic challenges of a second term president in the latter half of his term ? waning interest in his Agenda an exodus of top tier officials a focus on would be successors ? now made More difficult by his party a electoral losses. ? Baltimore Sun glitches intimidation allegations new machines vexing harassment reported by Bob Deans and Elliot Jaspin Washington ? widespread glitches in electronic balloting equipment caused delays frustration and High tech anxiety on tuesday As poll workers and Vot ers across the United states puzzled Over How to use automated gear tens of Mil Lions of people were seeing for the first time. Old fashioned mischief abounded As Well. Federal agents were called in to investigate allegations of voter intimidation in the closely watched . Senate race in Virginia. Latino voters in Arizona were filmed questioned and menaced surge would to be enough to maintain Republican dominance in the House where democrats demanding a new direction in Iraq need to win Only an extra 15 of 435 seats to regain control for the first time since 1994. The outcome in the Senate where democrats must take six of the 33 seats up for grabs was less certain and hinged on tight races in Missouri Montana ten Nessee and Virginia. I think we can do that but its Tough said Howard Dean head of the democratic National committee. The Odds Are against us we think we be reached the american voters but now they get to say. There a a huge surveys of voters at their polling places across the country suggested democrats were winning the support of independents by a margin of almost 2-1, and Middle class voters were leaving republicans behind. Exit polls also suggested top issues for voters leaning toward democrats included the Iraq War and corruption and scan dal in Washington. Democrats have proposed a wide Range of solutions on Iraq revolving around a phased redeployment of . Troops More soldiers stationed in Afghanistan and keeping a special forces task Force in the Middle East. There a not a lot we can do to actually Force the president to leave Iraq admit Ted Dean. But ultimately we think we can have some voting problems were serious enough to cast doubt on the legitimacy of any key races. There have been fender benders but no major pileup said Doug Chapin director of the non partisan , a Washington based Clearing House for polling place problems nation wide. Some problems were quickly chalked up to human error the sporadic and largely expected result of trying to teach old dogs new tricks at the ballot Box. We Are trying to make a transition now to the use of new technology that allows for More rapid and More accurate counting but the technology is not fully mature and its certainly not fully trusted by the Public said Andrew pol sky political science professor at Hunter College in new York City. ? Cox news service ;