European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 8, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 2 a a a the stars and stripes thursday novembers 1990 31 of 32 incumbents sweep to Victory in . Senate races sen. Jesse Helms r-n.c., Waves to supporters after his Victory Over Harvey Gantt. Sen. Bill Bradley d-nj., with his family and supporters in Secaucus celebrates a narrow win Over Christine Todd Whitman. Washington f a Senate incumbents overcame widespread voter disenchantment As 31 of 32 lawmakers won reelection the Only loser was two term Republican Rudy Boschwitz of Minnesota. With 88 percent of precincts reporting Boschwitz lost to College professor Paul Wellstone a political neophyte by a 5248 margin. Wellstone a Victory boosted the democrats majority in the Senate to 56-44, a one seat gain from the 101st Congress. A it Means that the Republican chances of taking control in 1992 Are much diminished and i think we will retain control in �?T92,�?� Senate majority Leader George Mitchell a Maine said tuesday night. Democratic Hopes of picking up another seat in North Carolina were dashed when Republican sen. Jesse Helms turned Back a Tough Challenge from former Charlotte mayor Harvey Gantt. Meanwhile some democrats touted As possible contenders for president Bush a Job in 1992 shored up their political standing with easy wins in tuesdays election. The Lone Surprise was new Jersey sen. Bill Bradley a slim Victory Over unheralded gop challenger Christine Todd Whitman. Feeling the heat of anti gov emment anger prompted by democratic gov. Jim Florio a $2.8 billion tax increase Bradley managed a 52-48 percent Victory. The margin was far below predictions of a 35 percent plus Victory for Bradley. Republican dreams of capturing the Senate seat in Hawaii disappeared As appointed democratic sen. Daniel Akaka withstood a stiff test from rep. Pat Saiki and won his first full term. Wellstone a Liberal activist who traversed Minnesota on a Green bus stopped Boschwitz from returning to the Senate for a third term. A if present trends continue that bus is going to take a . Senator from Minnesota to Washington d.c.,�?� Wellstone told his backers tuesday evening before he was declared the Winner. Boschwitz who hoped to receive a boost when Bush visited the state to Campaign for him told supporters he did not expect the race to be so close. Bradley one of 14 democratic incumbents who retained their Senate seats expressed similar disbelief. A what can i say its been a few years since i was in a double overtime a said the former Princeton University and new York kicks basketball Star. Republicans contend that Bradley a narrow Victory could Hurt his presidential aspirations. A senator Bradley might be off the charts now a said Charles Black the communications director for the Republican a . Senate m National committee. Democrats however said the final out. Come was merely a reflection of the electorates discontent and will have no bearing on a possible bid for the White House. The major democratic target was Helms the 69-year-old Champion of the right Wing who was pitted against Gantt Helms who had contended in the closing Days that Gantt favored racial quotas relished his Victory. A there is no Joy in Mudville tonight Quot the senator said. A the mighty Ultra Liberal establishment the Liberal politicians and editors and commentators and columnists have struck out  democrats also hoped for a gain in Oregon but four term Republican Mark Hatfield outdistanced businessman scientist Harry Lonsdale. Republicans retained control of the three open Senate seats. Rep. Robert Smith Defeated former sen. John Durkin in new Hampshire while rep. Hank Brown won in Colorado and rep. Larry Craig was the Victor in Idaho. Democratic incumbents Claiborne Pell in Rhode Island Carl Levin in Michigan and Paul Simon in Illinois won surprisingly easy victories Over Well financed Republican House members. Sen. J. Janies Exon d-neb., beat former Republican rep. Hal Daub. Other incumbents of both parties won with ease. Sen. Sam Nunn d-ga., the chairman of the Senate armed services committee won unopposed. Sens. Thad Cochran r-miss., and David Pryor d-ark., also had no contests. Sen. Alan a Simpson a Wyo. Won easily. In South Dakota Republican sen. Larry Pressler gained a third term. Other senior incumbents returned to office were Sens. Strom Thurmond r-s.c., who at 87 the Senate a oldest member Howell Heflin a Ala. John Warnerr a. David Boren a okla. Pete do Menici . William Cohen a Maine Ted Stevens a Alaska and Jay Rockefeller do. A. Nunn and Bradley were two of several possible future presidential candidates who won re election to the Senate. Others who won re election were Sens. Al Gore d-tenn., and Phil Gramm a Texas both with ease. Other winners were Sens. Nancy Kasse Baum a Kan. Mark Hatfield a Ore. Joseph Biden cd Del. Dan Coats Rind. John Kerry a mass. And Max Baucus  networks called results faster than Ever los Angeles apr forget counting ballots. At the top of cd so election special Dan rather began announcing the winners of the nations 35 Senate races. In shirt sleeves and suspenders rather did no to use the words a a projection or Quot exit  he declared victors. Small problem. Some of the polls on the East coast were still open. And no bureaucracy not even lbs can count that Rast. Forty minutes into tuesdays prime time lbs election special rather finally told viewers that  lbs  and can were using a first Ever joint venture called voter research and surveys which projected All Senate House and gubernatorial races based on exit polls. Lbs did place a tiny a a lbs news estimates in the left hand Corner of the screen when it moved on to the governors races across the country. But the premiere of hrs a As those in to news refer to it a served Only to heighten the networks preoccupation with providing instantaneous election results while most of the nations ballots Are still in boxes. Cable news network in its comprehensive and ambitious coverage that lasted six hours used the word   and Tom Brokaw a a called races. Abc and Peter Jennings a projected  on lbs it was hard to Tell what was a prediction and what was a pronouncement. Network election coverage hype was heightened by a ploy to boost ratings during the november a a sweeps period. Lbs and  said Days before the election that both would Cany no commercials during their special coverage. It was not an altruistic move. The . Nielsen co. Does not include prime time programs without advertisements in its ratings. And election specials Are not known for drawing huge audiences. Thus when lbs and  affiliate stations set advertising rates based on the number of november sweeps viewers neither network will lose Money because of Low election night ratings. This however did not Stop lbs from running in House ads promoting shows S.C. As a Uncle Bucko and a network premiere of the movie a fatal  while can provided the most up to Date detailed coverage of the country a far ranging ballot measures and candidates it was not immune from the dreaded malady of live news coverage inane chatter. Bernard Shaw seemed to take a fancy to can reporter and former Texas judge Catherine Grier who was covering the ugly Lone Star race for governor Between Democrat Ann Richards and Republican Clayton Williams. A a in a like to sit with you behind the camera and find out what you really think about that race a a smiling Shaw told crier. On ass Charles Kuralt chatted with new Day editorial cartoonist Doug Mariette about whether its difficult to draw cartoons when the nation appears headed for recession with a War Clouds looming a rather in declaring Democrat Joan Finney the upset Winner of the governors race in Kansas blurted a they Mabel come in from the Kitchen. Finney wins