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Democrats could lose control of Senate


Matter-Eater Lad

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Control of the US Senate was hanging in the balance last night after a Democratic member was left in a "critical condition" following brain surgery.

 

Sen Harry Reid

Senator Harry Reid dismissed

a Republican takeover

 

The death or long-term incapacitation of Tim Johnson would erase the one-seat majority held by Democrats after they captured six seats in last month's mid-term election drubbing of President George W Bush's Republicans. Under Senate rules, the governor of Mr Johnson's home state of South Dakota, a Republican, would choose a replacement if he died or had to stand down. Governors in this position invariably select a member of their own party.

 

The Senate would then be evenly balanced with 50 members on each side. In that situation, Vice President Dick Cheney, who presides over the Senate, would break the tie and keep the Republicans in control of the upper house.

 

Mr Johnson, 59, stuttered and became confused during a conference call with reporters on Wednesday. He was taken to hospital with a suspected stroke but it was discovered that he was suffering from bleeding in the brain due to a congenital condition.

 

Adml John Eisold, attending physician of the US Capitol, said Mr Johnson was critically ill after a late-night emergency operation for a rare and often fatal condition.

 

Democrats scrambled to declare that Mr Johnson was in fine fettle. Sen Harry Reid, his position as Senate majority leader suddenly in doubt, held a press conference to declare that he had visited his colleague and "he really looks good".

 

He declined to say whether Mr Johnson had been conscious and dismissed a Republican takeover.

 

http://www.netscape.com/viewstory/2006/12/14/democrats-could-lose-control-of-senate/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.telegraph.co.uk%2Fnews%2Fmain.jhtml%3Fxml%3D%2Fnews%2F2006%2F12%2F15%2Fwus15.xml&frame=true

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