Democrats score first in fight for US Congress

WASHINGTON, Nov 8 (Reuters) Democrats scored key early victories in a bruising election fight that could sweep President George W Bush's Republicans out of power in Congress and increase pressure for a new policy in Iraq.

In Pennsylvania, Democrat Bob Casey Jr defeated Republican Sen Rick Santorum, the third-ranking Republican in the Senate and one of the Democrats' biggest targets this year.

In a tough House fight in Indiana, Democrat Brad Ellsworth beat Republican Rep John Hostettler, one of three Republican House incumbents facing tough re-election bids. The other two, Mike Sodrel and Chris Chocola, were in close races in early returns.

Democrats were favored to recapture control of the US House of Representatives from Republicans for the first time since 1994, opinion polls showed, with their chance of taking over the Senate hinging on several key races that were too close to call.

''Certainly the early indications look good but I think we're all prepared to stay up all night and watch to make sure,'' Democratic Party chief Howard Dean said on CNN yesterday.

Republican Rep. Anne Northup of Kentucky, who has survived tough re-election challenges before, narrowly trailed Democratic challenger John Yarmuth with 80 percent of the vote counted.

A Northup loss in a race that had not drawn much national attention could be the first sign of a bad night for Republican members of Congress, who were in tight races in many states.

Republican Sen Mike DeWine of Ohio trailed in early returns, while Republican Sen. George Allen narrowly led Democrat James Webb with about one-third of votes counted. In New Jersey, Democrat Robert Menendez held on to his Senate seat.

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