The death throes of Republican power on Capitol Hill were finally stilled yesterday when George Allen conceded defeat in Virginia, handing control of the Senate — as well as the House of Representatives — to the Democrats.

Mr Allen, who only three months ago was regarded as a strong candidate for the presidency in 2008, has seen his political career implode amid allegations of racism after he taunted his rival’s dark-skinned aide as a “macaca”.

The margin of the Democrat candidate Jim Webb’s victory was only 7,000 out of more than 2.3 million votes cast in Virginia on Tuesday.

The loser would have been entitled to demand a recount, but Mr Allen, who had run a bitterly negative campaign against Mr Webb, yesterday tried to strike a note of conciliation in his speech admitting defeat. “I don’t want to cause any more rancour by protracting litigation which will not alter the result,” he said.

Victorious Democrats have made clear that they will exert strong pressure on the President to change course and possibly draw up a timetable for troops to come home from Iraq. After Donald Rumsfeld’s departure as Defence Secretary, Mr Bush yesterday continued his awkward courtship of congressional Democrats — particularly on Iraq: “Whatever party we come from, we all have a responsibility to ensure that these troops have the resources and support they need to prevail. I’m open to any idea or suggestion that will help us achieve our goals.” He also tried to regain the initiative, emphasising the need for legislation, such as the controversial terrorist surveillance measures to be passed before the new Congress convenes.

The White House said that it would make another attempt to get John Bolton confirmed by the Senate as the US Ambassador to the United Nations, even though he had been blocked by Democrats and moderate Republicans before.

But Joe Biden, the Democrat expected to become chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said that any attempt to confirm Mr Bolton, whose temporary appointment expires in January, was doomed. “I think John Bolton’s going nowhere,” he said.

Mr Webb’s victory in Virginia will give Democrats a majority by the narrowest of margins, 51 to 49, in the Senate.

Mr Bush will meet Harry Reid, the leader of the Democratic senators, today. He had lunch yesterday with Nancy Pelosi, who will become the Democrats’ House of Representatives Speaker in January.

In a slightly stilted atmosphere, they appeared in front of reporters to say how much they had enjoyed the meeting. “We may not agree about every issue,” said Mr Bush, “but we do agree we love America equally.” Ms Pelosi said they “had extended the hand of friendship and partnership”.

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