Desk. Republicans are edging closer to the magic number they need to gain control of the senate, starting with the senate race in arkansas. The incumbent, mark pryor the democrat, has been defeated by tom cotton, a firsttime congressman, a decorated iraqi war veteran, beating him by a wide margin. Taking a look at the other pickup for the g. O. P. And in West Virginia, the republican Shelly Moore Capito taking Jay Rockefellers seat, beating natalie tenant. The first female senator from virginia. In New Hampshire we do not have a decided race, but the incumbent democrat, sheen shaheen leads matt brown, 53 to 47 . In an undecided race in North Carolina, senator kay hagan, the democratic incumbent leading thom tillis, 51 to 46 , with 24 of the precincts reporting. I want to look at virginia, its a decidedly tight race. The democrats thought it was a safe seat for incumbent senator mark warner, with 78 reporting, the republican challenger, political stratist ed gillespie is beating him 5146 much we have another call to make right now, a projection from the Associated Press that governor mike rounds is the projected winner in the south Dakota Senate race. The former tea party. This is another g. O. P. Pickup. Back to you. Thank you very much. David shuster is here in new york. Mike viqueira is in washington. Lets go to you first. Your reaction on south dakota. Bigtime relief. Another 2 million in the last two weeks. For a while it looked like larry pressle, the independent may make a race. And mike rounds was without up in an investment scandal touted by Larry Pressler and rick weiland. For the last couple of days it has been trending in their directions. Its one race that they thought they would pick up, taking the number down to three, with the republican pickups in West Virginia and arkansas, and south dakota, leading three more that they need to pick up in order to take control of the senate. Mention virginia, and one thing we should point out is the way the Associated Press does this, is they make the samples from precincts. One reason some races are called by associate press, and not virginia, assist because theres several hundred thousand votes to come in from northern virginia. The suburbs are on washington d. C. A strong area from the democratic incumbent. He may be able to close the gap by 60,00070,000 in Arlington County alone. Thats why it is close, and there has been no projections while you see projections in other races. Let me continue in virginia, ed gillespie they pumped a lot of money into the race. He was considered a Great Campaign manager, widely respected, and something of a moderate in a sense that pro business would work with democrats. Mike warner expected this to be a fairly easy race. He made a lot of appeal to the southwest of virginia, the more rural areas, areas where theres strong antiobama sentiment, and the democrats are not seeing the mark warner support in certain parts of the state that they thought they would. That is why mark warner seems to be in some trouble tonight. Let me try to get Mike Viqueira again. Are you there . Yes, i am. I want to follow up on not just virgin, but the narrative of the story when it comes to the control of the United States senate. A close race in virginia, we are waiting to hear North Carolina. This has not been great news for the democrats, is there a bright light for the democrats at all tonight . I guess the bright light would be the electorate that we see tonight is not the electorate of 2016. The control of senate is being fought predominantly in socalled red states. That will not be the case in 2016. The fact that New Hampshire and North Carolina have not been called, and from all indications theres a fight, the incumbent in North Carolina, kay hagan, and Jeanne Shaheen appear to be in decent shape. At this point its hard to tell. A couple of things to talk about. The president , we have learnt, invited the top leadership of congress to meet with him this friday in the white house. Well learn a lot about what the agenda after january 3rd, after the new congress it seeded, what it will look like. If the republicans take the senate and are in control of the senate and the house, where john boehner is expected to have a wider margin, expanding their majority in the house. It will be interesting to see what kind of tack Mitch Mcconnell takes. A conciliatory speech, gracious in his speech in louisville, and so will that por tend a reaching across the aisle. The smart money is no way. Therell be pentup demand from conservatives who have been told they control the house, the agenda cannot be advanced. Mitch mcconnell will be under pressure not only from House Tea Party members, whose caucus is strong. I want to go to stephanie sy, with more results. The Associated Press projects that gary peters, the democrat in the race, is the projected winner in the Michigan Senate seat. This was democrat carl levins seat. The democrats expected to keep the seat. They have. Let me bring in michael shure. This was expected. Michigan a big democratic state. But let me get back to the scenario we heard tonight. As Mike Viqueira discussed, michael, will the president change his approach to the republicans, if the republicans control the senate. Some democrats i spoke to are fearing that the president will not change his approach, hell be more conciliatory to the republicans, work with them more than him, which will upset Many Democrats going into 2016. The way that the congress will work, if, in fact and we are saying this hypothetically, because three seats need to switch in order for Mitch Mcconnell to be the majority leader. If hes the majority leader, hes not only going to have the president to deal with, but the tea party wing. Hell have ted cruz to deal with. Ted cruz will not give him an easy time. He said that he will not support him for leader, he alloweded to that. That will be a problem that Mitch Mcconnell will have. Ironically he may find a friend and it scarce a lot of democrats. Another race is in louisiana. Randall pinkston has been covering that race, where the black voters could play a role. He joins us from new orleans. Its expected to be close tonight. Randall. John, as we all know, there has been no projections in louisiana, and thats because theres a good likelihood that this race will not be decided. It takes 50 plus one to declare a winner. The incumbent senator has been in a hardfought battle against the challenger congressman bill cassidy, the republican, who has been said to probably be in a position to beat her, if it goes to a run off. Well find out soon, and, of course, the spoiler is, for Mary Landrieu, is the tea party candidate, manis, who is expected to take enough votes to keep anyone getting 50 . Mary landrieus hope for victory rests for a large extent on turn out by africanAmerican Voters. Thats been the case for most of her races. More so than today. Reporter in her campaign since 1996, democratic senator Mary Landrieu counted on a unique recipe of louisiana voters. Sil us lee has a new orleans phrase. We have an unusual political gum bow, the conservative north and the someone moderate to conservative south. You have the gum bow of protest ants and catholics. The ingredient for a Mary Landrieu victory is a huge turn out by African American voters, sa group that doesnt show up for Midterm Elections. Now is a question of mobilizing them and getting them to the polls. In order to mobilize them, you have to dedicate resources. Im not sure how much resources they are dedicating. In tremaine an africanamerican new orleans. Few signs of excitement can be spotted. Billboards for the major candidates, only placards, urging people to vote. What changed in this environment is not always what is seen, but what is happening behind the scenes in terms of ideas, mobilization that may not be as visible as it was six years ago. President obama is the wedge issue. His Approval Rating hovers around 40 . And is more. Here in louisiana, it is a spark racial divide. A university of new orleans poll suggests fewer than 25 of black people poll. Ill vote for Mary Landrieu who will do what is best for the community, and promoting selfsufficiency. There has been a number of Mary Landrieu supporters all over new orleans with posters, signs, in the large cities, of course. Cassidy has been doing the same thing. Well find out about the outcome. Thank you very much. Mary landrieu one of the people running for senate. Joie chen is standing by to talk about some of the women running for election this year, and the important issues for women in the election. These elections both parties focus, big tension and effort on getting out the women votes, women candidates. Lets candidates. Lets talk to al jazeera political contributor, jay. You were writing about women in congress, and this is a night where there are big races that have to do with women candidates in both parties, louisiana, North Carolina, kentucky, georgia, iowa, New Hampshire, tough races going away as well. Absolutely, we have a chance for the First Time Ever for congress to reach 20 representation. Something we dont have. The senate is 20 . The house 20. 9. If both add seats, its a big milestone. Thats why you see so many candidates and the push for female voters. Appealing to the voters becomes the holy grail for elections, and if you win for the First Time Since 1982 in 2010, they won back the house, senate seats and everything is coming down to the vote in this election. And i just have to show our audience if they havent seen the spot, its running a digital spot that ran since the National Republican committee, intended to appeal to young women voters. This is the tart audience. Take a look if you have not seen it yet. Budget is a big deal for me now that i graduated from college. Rick scott is perfect. It is an incredible spot. It refers to the candidate for governor in florida. Its been used in 16 dates in various races, and it plays on that whole reality tv thing, young women saying yes to the dress or candidate. Very unusual appeal. This really goes to what both parties want women, single women, young women. Exactly, this is why you see a lot of female candidates because women vote for women candidates, and its something you are aware of. You see a lot of competition for women voters. For democrats, single women. Its why the yes, the dress, and the theme of getting married. For democrats they basically bet the entire race on turning out single women at the same level as 2012. They calculated if they did that, theyd win the senate and the house. Its basically impossible. Single women tend not to vote, but it is the goal to turn out enough to prevent the republican ways. The issues that we can get to. In the past, the focus has been on reproductive rights issues. Had it been a working strategy in this round or is it a pocket book issue if you want to reach the women. They tried to do the war on women. You saw that with mark warner, talking about amendments, an amendment that would declare life begins at the conception. The person who begins at conception. It has not caught on in the same way as 2012, when you had a bunch of republican candidates that said inopportune things about rape and abortion that went viral, turning off a lot of women voters. This time around politicians are more savvy about these issues, and you saw cory gardner talking about support for all contraception for all women, and that seems to have balanced it out. He has not udall has not got away with the women vote the way he would have with 2012. Jay newton small our political contributor joining us from new york. One of the other significant women playing the game in texas, in the texas governors race wnt down to defeat. Greg abbott defeating wendy davis, quite famous for her filibuster on reproductive rights issues in the texas legislature, not able to translate her popularity into success. Joining us from austin, is heidi zhoucastro, who has been following that race as well. Heidi . Well, you know the republicans held on to the governorship in the state. It comes as no surprise. The attorneygeneral, republican will continue for the party. He came in election day with a 14 point lead over wendy davis, the state senator who made the 11th hour filibuster. At the time she made it, it was more than a year ago. There was so much enthusiasm behind the candidacy at that time. It was a long time ago, and according to the latest, aborion doesnt rank among the top five issues. On top of voters minds, immigration and border security. Its largely what has happened over the Mexican Border this summer. Rick perry, the governor, was effective in sending National Guard troops, popular amongst the democrats. And his chosen replacement greg abbott for capitalizing on that. You may ask what is in it for democrats. Will they look forward to. The numbers will show progress. Wendy davis tallies with 42 of the vote, democrats will count it as progress. It will be more than any other democratic candidate or governor in texas that, they have won in recent years. Heidi zhoucastro in austin, texas tonight. Thank you. We have been following a number of womens issues and abortion is one. Ashar quraishi is live for us. Abortion has been a key interest in the race there. Thats right. Of the discussion about abortion in iowa centers around joni ernst cosponsoring a person hood amendment. Her support reaffairs that life reaffirms that life begins at exception and her challenger argues extending it would ban abortion. Some have seen it as a way for braley to capitalize on the importance of women voters in the race. He has maintained a significant lead among the voters in iowa. Joni ernst maintained a lead amongst male voters. Its an issue that we are looking at across the country. Between 2011 and 2013 there has been 200 restrictions passed by state legislators regarding abortion. Things like restricting access to how late you can have an abortion, or requiring abortion doctors to having admitting privileges at nearby hospitals. Its a big issues, and colorado, tennessee, and others have tackled that question of when life begins, abortion is a big issue in the race tonight. Thank you ashar quraishi. Lets turn to the number one issue for the voters, the economy. We learnt arkansas passed a minimum wage. Interesting, they have voted republican otherwise. Its not a republican issue or one they are in favour of. In arkansas, the republican and democratic candidate for governor came out in favour of the minimum wage increase. Midterms are taking place as americas economic recovery appears in full swing. I say appears, because its not that clear. The field is precarious. Nonexistent to the voters. Its the tale of two economies. Especially when you look at disparity in wealth. Lets look at the gains in the stock market since the last election. The s p index increased by 41 since the last general election in november 2012, that is a mighty increasing gain and goes with economic indicators, suggesting that the economy is moving strongly than it is. Economic growth, lower unemployment, job creation of 200,000 jobs a month. Housing crisis increasing and Interest Rates low. Why is this not connecting with American Voters. The former chairman of the council of economic advisors under president obama joins me now. Austin, by all measures, this economy is doing well, but about half of all america seems disconnected from the success of the stock market and the Housing Market is a perfect example. There are many that do not have access to the credit or capital or were not in the stock market. They see a soaring economy that has nothing to do with them. I think you may have exaggerated a bit to say every measure shows a booming recovery. Most of the measures show progress, but not rapid progress, and i think if you look in the past, any time we had modest and moderate progress, you dont get a lot of credit for that. People look and say how do i know in three months, in six month it is will not go back down. We have been living with that for three or four years. We are two Percentage Points lower on employment than we were in november 2012, people widely said 6 unemployment is a good thing. I think we are sugar coating this. The president and the democrats should take credit for the strengthening economy, but they are not. I dont know that i agree with you. I think that you are right, that there are many measures. If you look back one year, two years, four years, we are better off than in those times. We dont think its so credible or such a great tail wind that people would give you a whole lot of credit for saying that. If you look at, say, the g. D. P. Numbers, we get quarters where g. D. P. Looks strong. If you look at how wonderful the number is, you have to deal with the reality of the variability, and the next number is very good. We. So we are dealing with a longer term crisis, thats been 3040 years in developing as we outsourced jobs to lower places as technology replaces jobs. Up until about 1970, a rising tide in the stock market, the Housing Market raised all votes. We have seen a divergence, a tail of t