Republicans tantalisingly close to seizing control

The Republican leader in the Senate, Mitch McConnell, after winning his Kentucky seat. Credit: Reuters

The Republicans are tantalisingly close to seizing control of the Senate.

Tonight they have already made net gains in West Virginia, South Dakota, and Arkansas, and it seems likely they will win in Colorado as well.

President Obama knows where this is heading. He is summoning Congressional leaders - friends and foes alike - to the White House on Friday.

President Obama may be facing political gridlock if the Republicans win control of the Senate. Credit: Reuters

The challenge is to carve some political order out of dysfunctional, partisan and divided government.

But now all eyes on Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, Kansas and Virginia.

If the Republicans can win just three of these - and they should - then they will control the Senate and the political agenda.

It is not an earthquake but it is a tremor with far-reaching implications.