Virginia Senate Race Too Close to Call

"We're hopeful that at the end of the process, Sen. Allen will be reelected," Gillespie said. He said that 6,000 provisional ballots -- ballots where voters didn't have the proper identification or their addresses didn't match or other such administrative issues -- also still needed to be counted.

When Webb claimed victory, he did it as a Marine. He came into the Vienna hotel ballroom accompanied by his brother Gary playing the bagpipes, and about a dozen of his Marine buddies emerged from behind the stage. He stood at attention, ramrod straight, as they filed in.

The nail-biter left the candidates in limbo as their campaign advisers began to talk about a recount, which could consume Virginia for weeks and raise doubts about which party will control the U.S. Senate. A recount would seem a fittingly dramatic end to a campaign that was filled with scandals, personal revelations and racial accusations.

"I guess I know how I'll be spending my Thanksgiving and Christmas vacations," joked Jean Jensen, the secretary of the State Board of Elections, who a year ago oversaw a recount that awarded the state attorney general's job to the Republican candidate, Bob McDonnell, who had a 360-vote edge. Gov. Timothy D. Kaine (D) controls the Board of Elections.

Under Virginia law, a margin of less than a half-percent can trigger a recount which the state pays for. A losing candidate can also request -- and pay for -- a recount if the margin is less than 1 percent. As of early Wednesday, the state-financed recount seemed all but certain.

A recount would not officially start until the state board of elections certifies the results. Results of a recount may not come until December.

Webb jumped into the lead early, but by 10 p.m., Allen claimed a tiny advantage. As the night stretched on, the margin between the two widened and shrunk, adding to the drama. Then, around midnight, Webb jumped into the lead, after some absentee ballots were counted in Fairfax County.

An independent candidate, Gail Parker, claimed about 25,000 votes, or a little more than 1 percent. Parker, who campaigned as an Independent Green candidate, spent almost no money on her campaign and made increasing support for building mass transit the exclusive issue of her campaign. Analysts said it was unclear whose votes her presence might have affected more.

Despite steady rain in many parts of the state, election officials said turnout across Virginia was high and could end up rivaling participation usually seen during presidential contests. More than half -- 51.8 percent -- of the state's 4.5 million registered voters cast ballots.

Webb appeared to be doing well among women, African Americans and independents, according to exit polls. Allen had a significant lead among white voters, religious voters and veterans.

In other state elections, 13-term Rep. Frank R. Wolf (R) fought off a well-funded challenge by Democratic health care expert Judy Feder in the 10th Congressional District of Northern Virginia. Feder had raised more money than Wolf and made his support of President Bush an issue.

U.S. Representatives Thomas M. Davis III (R) and James P. Moran (D) were easily reelected. In Virginia Beach, Democratic challenger Phil Kellam was leading in a close race against freshman Republican Rep. Thelma D. Drake in a nationally watched contest.