US midterms interactive graphic
This interactive graphic explores the results of the Congressional and gubernatorial races as they are declared.
By Emiliya Mychasuk, FT.com’s US news editor, and Alan Rappeport, FT reporter, in New York. All times are eastern standard.
3:09am - As we wind down, three key senate races remain up for grabs and too close to call – Colorado, Washington and Alaska. In Alaska, the home of Sarah Palin, Lisa Murkowski held a late rally with supporters deriding critics who questioned the possibility of a successful write-in campaign. Murkowski-backers broke into an impromptu cheer of “Yes we can”, echoing President Obama’s own rallying call from two years ago.
Ms Murkowski told CNN that she was “close” to declaring victory and that she would still caucus with the Republican party if elected.
By Emiliya Mychasuk, FT.com’s US news editor, and Alan Rappeport, FT reporter, in New York. All times are eastern standard.
8:56pm - Losing West Virginia makes it virtually impossible for Republicans to win the Senate, notes Ms Fifield. Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee chairman Robert Menendez offered this congratulations for Mr Manchin:
“Congratulations to Senator-elect Joe Manchin for his victory tonight in West Virginia. Although nobody can ever take the place of former Senator Robert Byrd, Joe has been a tireless fighter for the people of his state for close to three decades. Despite the best efforts of National Republicans, who poured millions of dollars into the Mountain State, West Virginians cast aside the misleading attacks ads because they know Joe has always been there for them. I look forward to serving with Senator-elect Manchin, as he continues to put the people of West Virginia above all else.”
8:47pm – Mr Beattie, our International Economy Editor, looks for a silver lining for Mr Obama, and notes that signs of a Republican takeover of the House will make it easier for the president to push his free trade agreement as he heads to South Korea next week for the G20 meeting.
Senator John McCain of Arizona discusses the breakdown of bipartisan politics.
The fractious debate over President Barack Obama’s efforts to reform US healthcare has provoked a transatlantic split, as some of his critics from the American right ridicule the UK’s National Health Service, which some people view as a possible model for the US.
David Cameron, leader of the UK’s opposition Conservative party, on Friday added his voice to that of Gordon Brown, the Labour prime minister, in defending the NHS from US criticism, saying Britons were proud of the service. Mr Brown’s intervention on the Twitter social networking site came as some Republicans used the NHS as an example of the potential pitfalls facing Mr Obama as the US president tries to push through a healthcare reform bill. What do you think about US healthcare reform? Would you rather be sick in the US or in the UK? Click on the “comments” button to join the debate.
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I have been the FT's Washington columnist since April 2007. I moved from Britain to the US in 2005 to write for the Atlantic Monthly and the National Journal after 20 years working at the Economist, most recently as deputy editor. I write mainly about the intersection of politics and economics.
