Kentucky's McConnell keeps Senate seat

FRANKFORT, Ky., Nov. 4 (UPI) -- Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky was re-elected to the U.S. Senate Tuesday, defeating Louisville businessman Bruce Lunsford.

Democrats had pegged McConnell for defeat in their quest to gain a filibuster-proof, 60-seat majority.

With the win, McConnell becomes Kentucky's longest-serving senator, the Louisville Courier-Journal reported.

McConnell had a double-digit lead in the race until late September, when the U.S. economy went south and Lunsford began to surge in the polls.