Wofford loses hold on U.S. Senate seat

and Melissa Wagenberg It was all too much for Harris Wofford's grandson -- the cheering, the stomping, the clapping, the commotion. He squeezed his hands tightly over his ears while his composed grandfather gracefully conceded his U.S. Senate seat to Republican candidate Rick Santorum. Earlier, the sounds of the evening at Wofford's election headquarters had been more pleasing for the incumbent's supporters, as Wofford began to pull ahead early in the poll returns. Yet Wofford's four-point advantage dwindled, as Santorum slowly approached the Democrat's lead and eventually edged in front of him. The tension rose until long after midnight, with the outcome of the election too close to predict. "This [race] will come down to those two doors that I didn't knock on at 7:45," said one campaign volunteer. But supporters never lost their enthusiasm, even after returns indicated an inevitable loss. They continually applauded Wofford's personal integrity and strong stands on key issues. "Harris Wofford represents a dying breed of politicians," said College sophomore David Ginsberg. "He actually stood for something he believed in, and has stuck by it. His lines may not always be as polished, but there's just a look in his eyes that means everything. "We've been on the edge of tears all day long," he added. "If Wofford loses, it's a loss for all of Pennsylvania." While serving his first term in the Senate, Wofford first introduced a universal health care plan in 1991. He was a strong proponent of subsidizing education, and worked to secure jobs for the unemployed. City councilman Happy Fernandez said Wofford's knowledge of issues close to the city's heart made him the ideal candidate for the position. "This area represents 36 percent of the population of this state," she said. "And it contributes about the same percentage in state income taxes. He really understands us and our needs." Other celebration attendees said Wofford's well-known commitment to minority groups won him a number of loyal supporters in the Philadelphia area. "North Philadelphia is lucky to have Wofford for what he has done for the African-American community -- securing jobs, job training, establishing the new job center in Germantown," said Sultan Ahmad, a coordinator for Wofford's North Philadelphia volunteers. "He's out in the front leading the way on education and civil rights." Nellie Lugo, a resident of Northeast Philadelphia, who was responsible for soliciting new recruits for the campaign within the Latin American community, agreed. "I like the promises that he has given to the community," she said. "The reason why I'm here is because a lot of Latin Americans have been forgotten. I've been sponsoring rallies, trying to get the community involved in the Democratic Party." But the enthusiasm of his loyal supporters was not enough to surmount pre-election predictions which favored Santorum. NBC Evening News blamed Wofford's loss on sporadic voter turnout in Philadelphia, his main bed of support. Despite the incredible suspense leading up to his loss, Wofford retained his composure, addressing his supporters with promises of future success. "I'm sorry -- sorrier than I can say. But to every thing, there is a season," he said. "A time to win and a time to lose. It turned out that this was our time to lose."