WASHINGTON, 7 November — Republicans consolidated their hold on the US government yesterday after a historic sweep of both chambers of Congress gave President George W. Bush new power to enact his agenda. Republicans added to their newly won control of the Senate and although the exact level of their victory was not yet totally clear, it was extensive.

Bush was given much of the credit by friends and foes alike for leading his Republicans in winning control of both Houses. His supporters immediately began promoting his programs such as tax breaks, homeland security and appointing conservative judges.

The broad midterm election victory cast a long shadow on the 2004 presidential campaign, further enhancing Bush’s already high popularity and muddling the prospects of the Democratic field. Republicans increased their control of Congress by least three seats with a handful of races still undecided — only the third time in a century the party in the White House gained seats in the midterm elections.

Republicans were also assured of at least a two-seat margin of power in the Senate when former Democratic Vice President Walter Mondale conceded defeat in the Minnesota race he entered only at the last minute when incumbent Paul Wellstone died.

The margin could increase. Democratic Sen. Mary Landrieu did not reach 50 percent of the vote in Louisiana and will face a Dec. 7 runoff. In South Dakota, Democratic Sen. Tim Johnson declared himself the victor but with barely a 500-vote lead over Republican Rep. John Thune, a recount was almost certain.

But even the slight edge in the Senate gave Bush the chance to increase his authority to wage a military campaign against Iraq and push initiatives to make his tax cut permanent, create a new Homeland Security Department and get his federal judicial nominees confirmed. "I think it was a referendum on his (Bush’s) leadership and he really showed it," said Republican Sen. Trent Lott of Mississippi, who will become Senate majority leader.

Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle, a South Dakota Democrat who will move to the minority, agreed the election was a referendum on Bush, but added it was also a vote on the war on terror, Iraq and other national security concerns. "I think it means that the president has an opportunity here to enact and proceed with the plan (on Iraq) as he has articulated it," Daschle said on NBC. "I think the American people appear now to give him the benefit of the doubt."

Shell-shocked Democrats blamed their party’s congressional election humiliation on the wave of patriotic support for Bush unleashed by last year’s Sept. 11 attacks and the US leader’s relentless political campaigning. "Ultimately, we could not compete with the power of the bully pulpit of a wartime president," said Sen. Patty Murray, chairwoman of the Senatorial Campaign Committee.

Outgoing Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle said the preoccupation with national security issues had prevented Democrats from getting their message out about the sluggish economy, Social Security and a wave of corporate scandals. "You had a president who talked a lot about 9-11," Daschle said, referring to the multiple terror strikes in September 2001 that left some 3,000 dead in a matter of hours.

Bush called many of the winning Republicans to congratulate them but made no public appearances himself. His spokesman Ari Fleischer quoted him as telling the White House staff yesterday, "The credit goes to the candidates and those who focused on changing the tone."

Bush spent the last five days of the campaign traveling across the land in support of Republican candidates in 15 states. Even Democrats had to agree his visits played a major role in the Republicans’ eventual victory

"It was a reflection of a very popular president who broke all records in terms of his willingness to go around the country and campaign for his candidates," Daschle said on CBS. "I think the president did a good job ... and the American people responded."

Democrats did have some successes, especially in the state governor’s races, where the power, prestige and fund-raising ability often helps candidates running for president. Democrats might end up with half the governorships, including ones in the large industrial states of Illinois, Michigan and Pennsylvania. They held onto the governor’s job in California, the nation’s largest state, even though polls showed Gov. Gray Davis was highly unpopular. But even in the governor’s races, Bush’s presence was notable. His brother Jeb Bush was re-elected easily as governor in Florida and Republicans also picked several seats, including two southern seats in Georgia and South Carolina.

Republicans also broke Democratic control of state houses in Maryland and Hawaii, where Democrats had ruled for 36 and 40 years, respectively. In Maryland, Democratic Lt. Gov. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, daughter of slain Sen. Robert Kennedy, was upset by Republican Rep. Bob Erlich. (The Independent)