McLEAN, Va.-In a poised but noticeably emotional speech to a crowd of several hundred supporters in McLean, Sen. Charles S. Robb (D) conceded the Virginia senatorial race to former Gov. George Allen (R).
When the race was called at 7:35 p.m., Allen had received 52 percent of the vote and Robb 48 percent, with about 17 percent of precincts reporting.
With 99 percent of the precincts reported, Allen received 1,374,875 votes, or 52 percent, and Robb received 1,250,642, or 48 percent.
"First of all, I congratulate George Allen," Robb said.
He said he had spoken to Allen on the phone and he pledged to work with the senator-elect to make the change in office a smooth transition.
"George was very gracious in his remarks to me," he added.
Surrounded by his wife Lynda, his three teary-eyed daughters Lucinda, Catherine and Jennifer, and his mother-in-law Lady Bird Johnson, Robb thanked his supporters and reflected on his career as a public servant.
"I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to serve this great Commonwealth for the better half of the last quarter century," he said.
Robb served as lieutenant governor, governor and U.S. senator of Virginia. He is one of only five Virginians in history, now including Allen, to be elected to the state's two highest offices.
As senator for two terms, Robb served on the Armed Services Committee, the Intelligence Committee and the Finance Committee, among others. He is widely respected by colleagues on both sides of the aisle as a leader on fiscal and national security issues, and as a moderate.
Robb also has a distinguished military career spanning 34 years, including service in Vietnam. He earned both the Bronze and Silver Stars for his service in the Marine Corps.
Toward the end of his speech, Robb became quite animated as he told supporters to look forward to the time when Democrats would regain the governorship, the lieutenant governorship, the House and the Senate.
"If you lose but you keep your grace, you haven't really lost anything," Lynda Robb said after her husband's speech.
It is hard to determine what made the difference in the race, said Democratic candidate for governor Mark Warner.
"People just seem to like Allen's personality," said Katharine Maddox McGregor, a 1996 University graduate and former campaign worker for Robb.
"Robb has done a very good job as a senator but he has not been in the limelight. Allen says 'Here I am, I will fight for you' and people want to see that," McGregor said.
Allen maintained a strong lead during most of the race. But because of effective campaigning, Robb recently narrowed the gap, making this one of the closest and most-watched senatorial races in the country.
The two candidates spent more than $23 million on their respective campaigns, which included television commercials, phone banks and last-minute pamphlet drops.
Robb and Allen made issues such as education, gun control, tax relief and prescription drugs for seniors central to the race.
"Allen is very outspoken on gun control," McGregor said. He says he would "vote against a ban on assault weapons. I just don't understand it," she said.
"Tonight is a night to celebrate Robb's service to Virginia," Warner said.
"I am as lucky a man as ever lived," Robb said, recalling his career and the support of his family over the last quarter century.
Robb is a graduate of the University of Virginia Law School.
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