George Allen, the man who some say could’ve been president, has finally conceded to challenger Jim Webb, at long last putting an end to speculation and granting the Democrats total control of both houses of Congress.

New York Times:

Senator George Allen of Virginia conceded today that he lost to the Democratic challenger, Jim Webb, ending the last undecided Senate contest and giving Democrats control of the full Congress for the first time in a dozen years.

“In this season the people of Virginia, who I always call the owners of the government, they have spoken,” Mr. Allen said. “And I respect their decision.” He said he had called to congratulate Mr. Webb, who had already claimed victory in the race after Tuesday’s voting.

Shortly afterward, Mr. Webb told his supporters that he and Mr. Allen had had “a good discussion,” and that the defeated senator’s private concession remarks had been “very gracious.” The two will confer over lunch next week, Mr. Webb said.

The triumph in Virginia effectively gives Democrats 51 seats in the Senate. (Representative Bernard Sanders, the senator-elect from Vermont, is an independent who caucuses with the Democrats, and Senator Joseph I. Lieberman of Connecticut is a Democrat, although he ran for re-election as an independent after losing in the primary.)

Mr. Allen opened his concession speech, which he delivered from an outdoor podium in Alexandria in front of cheering supporters, by tossing a football and thanking his family.

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