Durkin Sweeps to Surprise Victory In New Hampshire Senate Election

Democrat John A. Durkin was elected to the United States Senate from New Hampshire yesterday, ending the longest Senate campaign in history.

Durkin, a former state insurance commissioner, defeated former Republican Congressmen Louis C. Wyman, winning about 54 per cent of the vote to Wyman's 46 per cent. Carmen C. Chimento, the candidate of the right-wing American Independent Party received 3 per cent of the vote.

Durkin won a surprisingly easy victory in what should have been an extremely close election, judging from pre-election polls, and from the virtual dead heat in the first run last November.

The November election was sent to the Senate for a final decision after two recounts produced two different winners, but the Senate found itself unable to determine a victor and voted to send the election back to New Hampshire for a rerun.

In Manchester, the state's biggest city and the home of both major candidates, Durkin more than doubled the, 12001 vote margin he held over Wyman in the 1974 election.

In Portsmouth, Durkin gained about 1200 votes over his November showing while Wyman's total dropped.

Chimento ran well ahead of his November total in all parts of the state and his four per cent showing cut heavily into the Wyman vote.

George Young, Wyman's campaign manager said he was not surprised at the outcome, only at the margin. Joseph Grandmaison. Durkin's campaign manager said, "People wanted a change," during victory celebrations at Durkin headquarters.

Before the polls closed, Wyman said, "President Ford put his name on the line," in coming to campaign for Wyman last week. Ford was received enthusiastically throughout the state during his campaign swing. Former California Governor Ronald Reagan also campaigned for Wyman.

Young also said last night, "Durkin had the advantage of being against Washington--against the government."