Feinstein, Waxman win re-election

By Michael Falcone
Daily Bruin Senior Staff

United States Sen. Dianne Feinstein and Congressman Henry Waxman
both won re-election bids in the 2000 election.

At a victory party in San Francisco, Feinstein shifted the focus
from her own win to that of one of the Senate’s new rookie
members: First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton.

“I really want to celebrate one victory that’s
taking place in this great country, and that is Hillary Rodham
Clinton,” referring to the first lady’s U.S. Senate
victory over Rick Lazio in New York.

“Before the night is over, we may have 11 or 12 women in
the U.S. Senate,” she added.

Less than an hour after the polls closed, Campbell told a
gathering of faithful in the San Jose suburb of Campbell that he
had called Feinstein to congratulate her. He then led a round of
applause for the senator.

“I think it’s difficult to overcome the
incumbent’s advantage,” Campbell said. “I think I
wasn’t as widely known.”

She also outpolled Campbell, a Stanford Law School professor,
among high school and college graduates. Campbell, struggling to
build a statewide presence, had targeted college students in his
campaign.

Conservatives favored Campbell nearly 3-1, and white males
narrowly supported him, but nearly every other demographic group
surveyed backed Feinstein.

The House of Representatives will retain one of its Democratic
members, with the landslide victory of incumbent Congressman Waxman
over Jim Scileppi ““ a relatively unknown Republican candidate
and UCLA alumnus.

With nearly 80 percent of the precincts reporting early today,
Waxman commanded 75.8 percent of the vote to Scileppi’s 19.3
percent.

By the numbers, the GOP retained control of the House after
Tuesday’s election. The Democrats lost two seats in the House
while the Republicans gained three.

According to CNN, the Democrats gained three seats in the
senate, bringing the number of Republicans and Democrats to 49 and
50, respectively.

With reports from Daily Bruin wire services.