DENVER, Nov. 6 (UPI) -- Sen. Wayne Allard, R-Colo., defeated Democrat Tom Strickland Tuesday in a close rematch of their battle six years ago in Colorado.
With more than 80 percent of the vote counted, Allard had 52 percent to Strickland's 45 percent. Allard beat Strickland 51 percent to 46 percent in his first race for the Senate seat in 1996.
"There's victory, and there's sweet victory," Allard told a Denver rally.
Allard, a veterinarian who grew up on a Colorado farm, thanked the thousands of volunteers who he said helped make his victory a reality this time.
Strickland, a former U.S. attorney who had been close in recent polls, conceded the race at a downtown Denver auditorium.
"I acknowledge the people of Colorado have spoken," he said. "I wish him well."
Allard's easy victory was somewhat of a surprise because recent polls had indicated that the Colorado race was one of the closest in the nation.
The importance of the race had been highlighted Sept. 24 when the two debated on NBC's "Meet the Press" program. Social Security and corporate responsibility were prime issues that Sunday morning as they were during their campaign.
Strickland had tried to overcome an unfair image he said he was tagged with in 1996 as a millionaire lawyer-lobbyist. He was best known as the U.S. attorney who was sworn into office the day after the Columbine High School shooting.
Allard reminded voters that he created a wildlife refuge at the old Rocky Flats nuclear weapons plant near Denver and pushed legislation that created the Great Sand Dunes National Park and the Spanish Peaks Wilderness Area in southern Colorado.
