Washington Nov 5 (AP) In a stunning reversal of expectations and accepted political wisdom, Democrats not only held the US Senate in yesterday's elections, but gained seats in both houses of Congress.
Massive turnout was the key to Democratic victories in both swing states and deep red states like Alaska and Kentucky, where Mitch McConnell's hopes of becoming Senate Majority Leader were dashed by Allison Grimes' surprising surge in both urban and rural precincts.
In Louisiana, which almost every analyst had predicted would go into a Dec. 6 runoff, incumbent Mary Landrieu eked out a 52% victory, prevailing over both establishment Republican Bill Cassidy and Tea Party favorite Rob Maness.
The shockwave spread across states north and south as returns came in through the night, with Senate seats, governorships and state houses going Democratic at a rate that shocked both pollsters and pundits.
GOP chair Reince Priebus suggested that Democratic victories were the result of voting irregularities, while FOX News' Sean Hannity used the word "stole" on the network's election-night special coverage.
On-the-ground reports seemed to contradict theories of foul play, however, with stories of packed polling places in Democratic districts and exit poll showing strong anti-Republican sentiment.
"They aren't offering any ideas except 'Obama bad,'" said Mary Louise Johnson, interviewed at her Virginia polling station. "There's more to governing than just saying the other guy's wrong."
Her feelings were echoed by voters across the country. In Colorado, construction company manager Rick Foster said, "I just got tired of the scare tactics. Terrorists with Ebola are coming for my guns. What a crock."
The widespread losses sent Republicans scrambling for explanations and ways to retool their message for elections in 2016. Many suggested another "autopsy," similar to the one the party did after losing to Barack Obama in 2012 was in order, though other party leaders were skeptical.
Steve Schmidt, consultant to John McCain's 2008 campaign, commented, "How many autopsies does it take before you admit the body's dead?"