WASHINGTON (AP) - Republicans have moved within reach of retaking control of House, as they captured three more hotly contestsed seats held by Democrats in Maryland and Pennsylvania.
Overall, Republicans have wrested 22 seats from Democratic control and are leading in races to take away another 40. Democrats have claimed only two formerly GOP seats.
Republicans need to pick up 40 seats to reclaim control of the House that they lost in 2006.
GOP candidates have defeated Democratic incumbents Paul Kanjorski and Chris Carney in Pennsylvania and Frank Kratovil in Maryland in races once considered toss-ups.
Democrats picked up a House seat in Louisiana held by Republican Joseph Cao (GOW') and an open seat in Delaware.