Democrat Jeff Merkley won the closely contested U.S. Senate race in Oregon, defeating incumbent Republican Sen. Gordon Smith, a victory that helps Democrats expand their majority in Congress, the Portland Oregonian reported on Wednesday.
With the results of three Senate races still to be determined from Tuesday's election, Democrats have now picked up six seats to raise their majority in the 100-member chamber to 57. Merkley is speaker of the state House in the Northwestern state.
Being a white, moderate Republican male has got to be one of the hardest jobs in the world. You want to be rational and thoughtful; all the people with passion on your side want Sarah Palin. A moderate woman Republican, like Snowe or Collins, can at least count on their gender -- they have a base of voters who will support them because they are women. Men ain't got nothing.
