http://66.225.205.104/JR20101103.mp3
After 28 years in the U.S. House, South Carolina Democrat John Spratt lost last night to Republican Mick Mulvaney. It's a painful loss for the Democratic Party. Across the country, Democratic incumbents fell in Congressional elections last night, but Republican Mick Mulvaney doesn't think that's the only reason for his victory in South Carolina's 5th district. "It certainly didn't hurt, but this was not a national wave election," says Mulvaney. "We could not have beaten Mr. Spratt if his voting record had been different. He was a very well-liked gentleman who would not have been the casualty of a wave-election but for his voting record." Spratt's votes in favor of TARP, the stimulus bill and health care overhaul seem to have finally tipped public opinion against him in the conservative-leaning Upstate district. National Democrats spent heavily on TV ads hoping to keep Spratt in office because of his influential position as chairman of the House Budget committee. That also made him a particularly attractive target for spending by the Republican Party and outside groups. Mulvaney is a former Charlotte attorney and South Carolina legislator. He joins a freshman class of Republicans in a Congress his party now controls.