Close Senate races around the country

WASHINGTON, Nov. 2 (UPI) -- Many of the competitive Senate races across the country remain tight as votes continue to come in.

In South Dakota, Senate minority leader Tom Daschle is neck and neck with Republican challenger John Thune. Both candidates had 50 percent of votes with 37 percent of precincts reporting.

In Florida, Republican Mel Martinez and Democrat Betty Castor were also tied in their race to fill the seat being vacated by retiring Democratic Sen. Bob Graham. Martinez and Castor both had 49 percent of the vote with 86 percent of precincts reporting.

Republican Jim Bunning appears likely to capture a narrow victory over Daniel Mongiardo in Kentucky. With 99 percent reporting, Bunning was up 51 percent to 49 percent.

In North Carolina, Rep. Richard Burr, the Republican, maintained a five-point lead over Erskine Bowles for the seat currently held by Sen. John Edwards. If those numbers hold, that state will join South Carolina, where Republican Jim Demint is the projected winner over Inez Tenenbaum, as a state where Republicans picked up a seat currently held by Democrats.

Republicans also seem poised to take Oklahoma. Tom Coburn had a 10-point lead over Rep. Brad Carson with 78 percent of precincts reporting.

And for the first time since the Reconstruction, Louisianna may send a Republican to the Senate. Republican John Vitter led the race with 52 percent of the vote with 76 percent reporting. Democrats Chris John and John Kennedy had 30 percent and 14 percent, respectively.