By Matt Sepic & Maria Hickey, KWMU / AP
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kwmu/local-kwmu-541278.mp3
St. Louis, MO – Democrat Claire McCaskill will be the next U.S. Senator from Missouri.
She edged Republican Jim Talent by fewer than 50,000 votes of more than 2,000,000 cast.
Talent told supporters early today (Wed.) he had called McCaskill to congratulate her. Meanwhile, McCaskill told a cheering crowd: "You elected an underdog because you believed you could."
With 98% of precincts reporting, McCaskill had more than 1,000,000 votes, or 49.5%. Talent had 986,000 votes, or 47.4%
The war in Iraq and several high profile ballot issues -- especially one guaranteeing the right to conduct embryonic stem cell research into the Missouri Constitution -- played a prominent role in the race.
McCaskill called for a redeployment from Iraq within two years and prominently supported the stem cell initiative. Talent opposed the amendment, saying it would allow the cloning and destruction of early human life. He tried to characterize McCaskill as weak on terrorists.
Talent had expressed frustration about having to run against voter discontent with President Bush and scandals involving other Republican officials.
Talent told a subdued crowd of supporters that "The headwind was just very, very strong this year."
TO HEAR McCASKILL'S SPEECH, CLICK HERE.
TO HEAR TALENT'S SPEECH, CLICK HERE.
| Results (candidates in ballot order) | ||
| Votes (98% in) | ||
|
Jim Talent (R) | 986,007 (47.4%) | |
|
Claire McCaskill (D) | 1,028,375 (49.5%) | |
 Frank Gilmour (L) | 46,977 (2.3%) | |
|
Lydia Lewis (P) | 17,994 (0.9%) | |