McConnell hangs on

A setback for Democrats reaching to beat a high-profile Republican and gain an additional Senate seat.. NBC News declares Mitch McConnell the projected winner in Kentucky.

McConnell escapes the fate of leaders in past years; Democratic Majority Leader Tom Daschle was voted out of office in 2004; previous Republican leaders Trent Lott and Bill Frist both opted not to run for reelection.