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Democrats lick wounds, Republicans savor victory

US President George W. Bush and his party savored sweeping midterm election victories and began sketching an agenda for a new, Republican-controlled Congress. The leader of defeated House Democrats, Representative Dick Gephardt, signaled he would step down.

"I'm excited to be able to be on offense," said Republican Senator Trent Lott of Mississippi, the once and future Senate majority leader. He said Republican priorities will include a new Homeland Security Department as well as targeted tax cuts to help the economy. He added that Bush's judicial nominees could expect speedier review.

Bush made no public remarks during the day, and aides said he wanted to avoid giving the appearance of gloating. "There's a lot more to do and the president looks forward to working with Democrats and Republicans to do it," said his spokesman, Ari Fleischer.

Republicans were assured of 51 seats in the new Senate, a gain of two. Democrats had 47 and the support of one independent. One race remained in doubt, in Louisiana, where Democratic Senator Mary Landrieu will face Republican Suzanne Terrell in a December runoff.

In the House of Representatives, Republicans had 228 seats -- a gain of five -- and led for one. Democrats won 203, and led for two. There was one independent.

Senior aides, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Gephardt intended to declare yesterday that he would not seek a fifth term as House Democratic leader. The 61-year-old Missouri lawmaker is a potential challenger for the White House in 2004, but it was not known whether he would discuss his presidential ambitions when he made his announcement.

His decision not to seek a new term in leadership came at the end of a day in which two members of the rank and file urged him to step aside. And it triggered a race between the second-ranking and third-ranking members of the leadership, Representatives Nancy Pelosi of California and Martin Frost of Texas.

Gephardt was elected to a 14th term in the House on Tuesday, and is expected to remain in Congress even though he will no longer be leader of his party.

The elections marked a remarkable triumph for Republicans, who bucked history to gain seats in a midterm election in which they held the White House.

One Republican polling firm circulated the results of an election-night survey that showed late-deciding voters gave Bush higher approval ratings than the country at large -- and that support for the president was higher, still, among voters in the pivotal House districts where the battle for control was settled.

Also see story:
Analysts split on impact of US midterm elections
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