Democrats could miss their 'super-majority'

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The party had hoped to achieve 60 of the 100 seats in the upper house of the American legislature, which would have prevented Republicans "filibustering" their legislative proposals.

With most results in, Barack Obama's party had picked up at least five new seats taking them to 56 but they appeared unlikely to gain the full complement of 60 they were hoping for.

Elections were still undecided in Minnesota, Oregon and Alaska, with the hope among Democrats that they could win as many as 59 seats and at least 57 - the number they held in 1993-94 under Bill Clinton.

The Republicans lost New Hampshire and North Carolina, where two sitting senators were voted out, as well as seats in Virginia, Colorado and New Mexico left vacant by retiring Republicans.

Among the defeated Republicans was Elizabeth Dole whose husband failed in a presidential bid in 1994.

Even without the 60-seat super-majority the Democrats believe they can get through the vast majority of Mr Obama's legislation.

The Senate is much less partisan than the lower House of Representatives and independent-minded Republicans are unlikely to stand in the way of a president elected on a wave of popular support. Mr McCain's pledge of loyalty to the new president is also likely to sway opinion.