Dems Complete Election Sweep of Congress

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Democrats completed an improbable double-barreled election sweep of Congress on Wednesday, taking control of the Senate with a victory in Virginia as they padded their day-old majority in the House.

``The days of the do-nothing Congress are over,'' declared Democratic Sen. Harry Reid of Nevada, in line to become majority leader, adding that Americans spoke ``clearly and decisively in favor of Democrats leading this country in a new direction.''

Jim Webb's victory over Sen. George Allen in Virginia assured Democrats of 51 seats when the Senate convenes in January. That marked a gain of six in midterm elections in which the war in Iraq and President Bush were major issues.

Earlier, State Sen. Jon Tester triumphed over Republican Sen. Conrad Burns in a long, late count in Montana.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-6201887,00.html