America gridlocked

Republicans captured control of the House of Representatives.

Republicans captured control of the House of Representatives on Tuesday and expanded their voice in the Senate,as discontented voters,frustrated about the nations continuing economic woes,turned sharply against President Barack Obama.

For the Democrats,who won majorities in the House and Senate in 2006,it was a punishing defeat. Republicans picked up at least 60 seats,surpassing their gains in the so-called Republican Revolution of 1994,and making it the largest sweep of House races since 1948. In the Senate,Republicans nabbed at least six seats. The Republican resurgence,propelled by economic worries and a forceful opposition to the Democratic agenda of healthcare and stimulus spending,delivered defeats to House Democrats from the Northeast to the South and across the Midwest.

Still,Senator Harry Reid of Nevada,the Democratic leader,narrowly prevailed and his party hung on to control by winning hard-fought contests in California,Connecticut,Delaware and West Virginia. Republicans picked up at least six Democratic seats,including the one formerly held by Obama,and the party will welcome Marco Rubio of Florida and Rand Paul of Kentucky to their ranks,candidates loved by the Tea Party movement. The American peoples voice was heard, said Representative John A Boehner of Ohio,positioned to be the next Speaker of the House.

The Republican tide swept into statehouse races,too,with Democrats poised to lose the majority of governorships,particularly those in majorpresidential swing states,like Ohio,where Gov Ted Strickland was defeated. Republicans picked up governorships in at least eight states,and Democrats lost at least nine,as Lincoln Chafee,a former Republican senator,was elected governor of Rhode Island as an independent.

One after another,once-unassailable Democrats like Senator Russ Feingold of Wisconsin,Representatives Ike Skelton of Missouri,John Spratt of South Carolina,Rick Boucher of Virginia and Chet Edwards of Texas fell to little-known Republican challengers.

The House Speaker,Nancy Pelosi of California,did not immediately say whether she would remain in the Congress after losing the speakership.

Republicans did not achieve a perfect evening,losing races in several states,including the Senate contests in Delaware and Connecticut,because some candidates supported by Tea Party movement knocked out establishment candidates to win their nominations. But Republicans did score notable victories,like the Pennsylvania Senate contest,where former Representative Pat Toomey defeated Representative Joe Sestak.

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The results were nothing short of remarkable for Republicans,two years after they suffered a crushing defeat in the White House. It gives the party substantial leverage in terms of policy,posing new challenges to Obama.

In the House,Republicans found victories in most corners,including five seats each in New York,Pennsylvania,and Ohio,at least three in Illinois,three in Florida,Tennessee and Virginia and two each in Arkansas,Colorado and Mississippi. In Delaware,Chris Coons defeated Christine ODonnell,whose candidacy became a symbol of the unorthodox political candidates swept onto the ballot in Republican primary contests. And in California,Senator Barbara Boxer turned back a vigorous challenge from Carly Fiorina,a Republican.

Republicans controlled 29 governors seats,and Democrats just 16,with 4 races still undecided.JEFF ZELENY amp;

DAVID M HERSZENHORN