With 92 percent of the precincts counted, Democrat Owens had defeated Hoffman, and also the Republican, with 49 percent of the vote. "Our challenges aren't Democratic or Republican ... They're not liberal or conservative. They are American challenges that we will overcome with American resolve. The only way that we can create jobs and attract economic development to our communities is by bringing people of all parties together and giving everyone a seat at the table." With those words, the triumphant Democrat in New York was acknowledging the open political veins in all of these elections: A still-sour economy played a role in the rejection of both Democratic Gov. Full Article at Chicago Tribune