America's Feeling Blue

By Elisabeth Salemme

A blue tide swept the U.S. last week. Years of G.O.P.gerrymandering couldn't stop the Democrats from "thumpin'" the Republicans, as a chagrined President Bush described it. And it was an especially significant Election Day for big spenders and women, though we're still not sure what it meant for Michael J. Fox. Here are four interesting revelations about the midterms.

Gerrymandering Isn't Foolproof

The Dems gained at least a dozen G.O.P.-gerrymandered districts. (The word refers to a salamander-shaped Massachusetts district carved by Governor Elbridge Gerry in 1810.) But funny shaping did cut G.O.P. losses. For example, New York Congressman John Walsh won with 51% of the vote in his snake-like district. The past two times, he had 90% and 72%.

The Michael J. Fox Effect?

Celebs aren't always helpful. Actor and Parkinson's sufferer Michael J. Fox stumped for pro-stem-cell-research initiatives and candidates--and endured Rush Limbaugh's taunts. To what end? Missouri voters backed a ballot measure for research, but postelection polls showed that Fox's ads hurt his candidate Claire McCaskill more than they helped.

Money, Money, Money ...

This election proved that it pays to spend big(ger). The average House winner burned through about $1 million on the stump--and the candidate who spent the most won in 93% of House races. The most expensive victory was, oddly, one of the Dems' safe bets: New York Senator Hillary Clinton, who won a second term with 67% of the vote--and $35.9 million.

The Year of The Woman

Alaska elected Republican Sarah Palin its first female Governor. Democrat Carol Shea-Porter will become the first woman to represent New Hampshire in the House. The new Congress will be 16% female--an all-time high. And the House is expected to have its first female Speaker, Nancy Pelosi, who said, "Maybe it takes a woman to clean House."