Democrats Celebrate Gains, Declare a Mandate From Voters

Susan Davis reports on election results. Even before Barack Obama was declared the winner in the presidential race against John McCain , congressional Democrats were celebrating their spoils at a rally a few blocks from the U.S. Capitol. The final tallies are still being counted, but Democrats have made gains in both chambers of Congress. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada declared that the American electorate gave the Democratic Party a “mandate” as he pledged to aid the middle class and restore fiscal responsibility to “lead this country to a much better place.” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California pledged bipartisanship and civility in Washington, D.C. Obama built much of his campaign around changing the culture of Washington. “We have a great deal of work to do, and we can do some of it right from the start,” she said. “But the rest of it will take a while. We must take a very deliberate, steady course for America. That’s exactly what Barack Obama is prepared ... (link)