John Cornyn Tops Noriega, Holds Senate Senate

US Senate Race Less Competitive Than Democrats hoped

John Cornyn coasted to a surprisingly lopsided win tonight to reclaim his US Senate seat, winning over Houstonian Rick Noriega 56% to 41%.

Despite campaign appearances by both Bill and Hillary Clinton, Noriega never could raise the funds needed to counter Cornyn's considerable war chest of 18 million dollars.

In Texas, the Republican brand doesn't mean death, and Cornyn had succeeded in distancing himself from the Bush White House enough to render Noriega's attempts to link him with the unpopular president ineffective.

Republicans lost some crucial seats in the Senate this cycle, and Cornyn looks to increase his stature in the minority party this coming term. Rumors are also floating that he might consider a presidential bid in 2012.