The last of the ballots have been counted in the race for the 29th Congressional District and Eric Massa is on top, beating incumbent Republican Randy Kuhl by approximately 5,000 votes.

Massa declared victory during a conference call late this morning and thanked Kuhl for his years of service. Kuhl, called him earlier today, Massa said, and pledged his cooperation, and that of his staff, for an orderly transition.

That transition has already started: Massa attended the Congressional freshman orientation this week. Newly-elected Congressional representatives from both parties were included in discussions of a bailout package for the Big Three automakers, he said.

"First, I don't like bailouts," Massa said. "Second, if we must extend a federal line of credit, then it must be done with the strictest accountability; it must be done in a way that seizes the opportunity to help our automobile manufacturers achieve the goal of ultra-high-mileage vehicles for the American consumer, and it must come out of the money that's already been earmarked for the financial rescue for the banking sector.

And Detroit can't "come to Washington in Lear jets and walk onto the tarmac with a tin cup."

His priority, Massa said, is the economy. Any stimulus package needs to focus on building things - infrastructure in particular. It can't just be checks to taxpayers. Health-care reform is also priority and a key part of rebuilding the economy, he said.

Massa had a 4,400 vote lead at the end of election night November 4, earning 51 percent of the vote. In Monroe County's part of the district, Massa led Kuhl 57 percent to 43 percent. As the machines were re-canvassed and paper ballots counted, the lead grew. The final breakdown of the votes is not yet available.