U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson won a fifth term to Congress Tuesday after a surprising see-saw battle against Democratic challenger Rob Miller.

The Associated Press declared Wilson the winner late Tuesday evening, and Wilson’s campaign said he was headed out to a campaign celebration in downtown Columbia.

The race was up or down as early vote returns come in, then Wilson supporters saw an early lead evaporate before his fortunes turned up again.

Wilson, of Springdale in Lexington County, was counting heavily on a strong showing in his home county and from the Lowcountry.

After leading all evening, and with supporters jovially watching the early returns over food and drink at Columbia’s Liberty Tap Room and Grill, Wilson fell to 6 percentage points behind Miller with a third of returns reported.

Miller, an Iraq war combat veteran in his second consecutive race against Wilson, had run one of the most aggressive campaigns against Wilson the four-term congressman has ever faced.

Miller, who had been new to politics, lost to Wilson in 2008 by 8 percentage points.

Miller consistently said this year he would give Wilson a stronger challenge and make the race tighter than in 2008.

Read the complete story at thestate.com