By Anjeanette Damon, Las Vegas Sun

Harry Reid has defeated Republican Sharron Angle in his bid for re-election, according to the Associated Press.

At the convention center on the Strip, the room burst into chants of “Harry! Harry! Harry!” and yelps of glee as MSNBC announced Reid as its projected winner of the night. Any tension that had been in the room melted into shouts and hugs.

Earlier in the day after casting her vote in Reno, Angle said she was “cautiously optimistic” about her chances this evening. But she added, when prompted by a reporter, that her campaign is prepared for a recount if that becomes necessary.

Harry Reid

“Whatever is necessary to do,” she said. “We have to be ready for any opportunity.”

In a reflection of the bitter destroy-the-opponent-at-all-costs ad war that characterized the Senate race, voters interviewed at polls across the state said they hated both of their choices.

Read the whole story