Incumbent Democrat Landrieu loses Senate seat to GOP in runoff

NEW ORLEANS, Dec. 7 (UPI) -- Democratic Sen. Mary Landrieu of Louisiana has lost her Senate runoff, handing another seat to the GOP.

CNN called the race for her Republican opponent Rep. Bill Cassidy just after polls closed Saturday night. Republicans picked up nine Senate seats in the midterm elections, for a controlling number of 54 total.

Polls had indicated Landrieu would likely lose the seat, as she was weighed down by the unfavorable perception of President Barack Obama by voters.

There are several factors being cited in the loss as pundits and others analyze Landrieu's downfall. The Hill reports a collapse of support among white voters contributed to the defeat, among other factors. The analysis concludes Landrieu was doomed from the start.

Landrieu had expressed disappointment with support from her party, saying the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee "walked away" from her underdog fight for a fourth term.