In what was considered one of the most competitive races at the statewide level heading into Election Day, Democratic state Sen. Kwame Y. Raoul defeated Republican Erika L. Harold handily in the race to replace Attorney General Lisa M. Madigan.Raoul was declared the winner before 9 p.m., a victory that seemed to refute the prediction that the race would be close.As of this morning, with 97.6 percent of precincts reporting, Raoul secured 54 percent of the vote, or 2.3 million votes. Harold had 43 percent of the vote or …