By Rachel Lippmann, St. Louis Public Radio
ST. LOUIS – Congressman Russ Carnahan says he'll continue his efforts to reach bipartisan agreement on issues, even as a member of the minority party next year.
Speaking on the morning after his closest re-election contest, Carnahan says voters sent a message Tuesday night that politicians need to work together.
"And so that again is going to be one of my priorities to continue that kind of work to look for the like-minded people," Carnahan said, "Not just Democrats but Republicans and independents that can form coalitions to make progress in this country."
Carnahan also said that the Republican surge in the US House and Senate will make the lame duck legislation session the "art of the possible."
"My hope is that leaders from both sides in the outgoing leadership and incoming leadership will sit down and look at things that are possible," Carnahan said, "Things that we need to address in this country that we shouldn't be delaying."
Carnahan is also dismissing allegations from challenger Ed Martin of voting irregularities on Tuesday, calling them "pure bluster."
Republican challenger Ed Martin is raising questions about a glitch that left the state's voter verification Web site inaccessible to poll workers. Martin is also challenging the St. Louis city Board of Elections decision to use a security firm Carnahan hired after his office was firebombed.
Carnahan says the unidentified firm has done work throughout the city.
"[Martin] knows the firm well. It's our understanding that they actually hired that firm when he worked for the archdiocese. It's a well know firm that many folks have used, I think there's no legitimate concern there," Carnahan said.
Unofficial state results show Carnahan beating Martin by 4,400 votes, or 2.2 percentage points, a margin that Carnahan said is too wide for Martin to request a recount.