CNN projects GOP will increase control in Senate
Top Democratic Daschle projected to lose South Dakota seat
 |  CNN projects Republican Jim DeMint wins a Senate seat in South Carolina. |
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(CNN) -- Republicans were projected to increase their grip on the Senate with a strong showing across the South Tuesday, and the Senate's top Democrat was projected to lose his seat in South Dakota.
With nearly 90 percent of the precincts reporting, CNN projected that Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle would lose to former GOP Rep. John Thune.
Daschle would become the first Senate leader in 52 years to lose a re-election bid. (South Dakota results)
"Today the voters of South Dakota spoke and I am enormously grateful that they have given me the opportunity to serve as their next United States senator," Thune said in a victory speech early Wednesday.
Based on the results nationwide, CNN projected that Republicans would add to their ranks in the Senate after picking up open Democratic seats in Georgia, South Carolina, Louisiana and North Carolina.
If the projections hold, Republicans would have 55 seats, the Democrats 44 and one independent. (Check the balance of power)
In North Carolina, White House chief of staff for former President Clinton Erskine Bowles conceded the race to Republican Rep. Richard Burr. Both were vying for the seat left open by vice presidential candidate Sen. John Edwards.
In Louisiana, Republican David Vitter was projected to win.
In Florida, with about 99 percent of the precincts reporting, former Bush administration Housing and Urban Affairs Secretary Mel Martinez, a Republican, held a nearly 72,000-vote lead over Betty Castor, for the seat being vacated by retiring Democratic Sen. Bob Graham.
The only bright spots for Democrats came in battles for open Republican seats in Illinois, where state Sen. Barack Obama, a rising Democratic star, won by a huge margin over Republican Alan Keyes, and in Colorado, CNN has projected Democratic Attorney General Ken Salazar will defeat Republican beer magnate Pete Coors.
CNN projected that the GOP will hold onto its seat in Kentucky, where Sen. Jim Bunning was in a tight race with state Sen. Dan Mongiardo.
South Carolina was among the states CNN considered vulnerable for Democrats. Democrat Ernest Hollings decided not to seek re-election, leaving the seat up for grabs.
The state leans to the right, and CNN's projected winner, Republican Jim DeMint, has a record of supporting tax cuts while a U.S. representative. (South Carolina results)
Democrat incumbent Blanche Lincoln was CNN's projected winner in Arkansas' Senate contest.
Republicans are projected to keep their Senate seats in Kansas and Arizona, with Sens. Sam Brownback and John McCain holding on to their posts.
And in Oklahoma, the projected winner was Republican Tom Coburn. That seat came open after Republican Don Nickles decided not to seek re-election.
Republicans currently control 51 of the body's 100 seats.
CNN also projected that Republican incumbent senators in Alabama, Missouri, Utah, Iowa, Idaho, Pennsylvania and New Hampshire will hold onto their seats.
Another endangered GOP incumbent, Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, held a 7-point lead early Wednesday with about half of the vote counted.
Democrats are projected to successfully defend their posts in Connecticut, Maryland, Vermont and Indiana.
Democrats had to hold onto 19 seats, and then pick up two more to gain control of the Senate. CNN projects that in Vermont, incumbent Sen. Patrick Leahy, a Democrat, will keep his job.
Leahy was expected to defeat Republican Jack McMullen.
And CNN projected that in Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh will maintain his seat.(Check the balance of power)
Projected CNN winners in New York , Wisconsin, North Dakota,Nevada, California, Washington, Oregon and Hawaii are the incumbent Democratic senators.
CNN projected that Ohio's Republican incumbent, Sen. George V. Voinovich, will win. His victory would represent defeat for former state senator and U.S. representative, Democrat Eric D. Fingerhut.
Copyright 2004 CNN. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Associated Press contributed to this report.
