MEDIA REACTION: DEMOCRATS TAKE CONTROL OF HOUSE

UNCLAS SANTIAGO 002335 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR IIP/G/WHA, INR/R/MR, WHA/BSC, WHA/PDA, INR/IAA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OPRC KMDR KPAO CI SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: DEMOCRATS TAKE CONTROL OF HOUSE On November 8, conservative, independent "La Tercera" (circ. 101,000) carried an article by Alvaro Vargas Llosa entitled, "Protest Vote against Republicans, Democrats Win Control of the House." Quote: "There are two important elements of this election. One is the geographic division between the south, where the Republican vote did not change, and the rest of the country, where the Democrats had an important result. Another important element is...that almost all the opposition candidates who succeeded in removing their Republican opponents are ideologically 'moderate'. According to all exit polls, the key issues in this election were the war in Iraq, terrorism, corruption, and the economy. The majority said they were against Bush on all issues...except terrorism...which sheds some light on the political deterioration of the White House and the government in this election." KELLY