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Republicans win US Senate poll Obama's party slumps to poll loss
(about 1 hour later)
Republican Scott Brown has won the race for the US Senate seat in the state of Massachusetts left vacant by Edward Kennedy's death. Republican Scott Brown has won a shock victory in the race for the US Senate seat in Massachusetts left vacant by Democrat Edward Kennedy's death.
Democrat Martha Coakley conceded she had lost the election after partial results gave Mr Brown a healthy lead. The result is a huge blow to President Barack Obama, whose healthcare reform programme is now in doubt.
Her defeat is a huge blow to President Barack Obama, whose healthcare reform programme is now in doubt. Democrat Martha Coakley conceded she had lost the race after partial results gave Mr Brown a healthy lead.
The Republican win has robbed the Democrats of their filibuster-proof 60-seat majority in the Senate.The Republican win has robbed the Democrats of their filibuster-proof 60-seat majority in the Senate.
This will make it much harder for Mr Obama to pass a healthcare reform bill - the most important domestic policy objective of his first year as president.This will make it much harder for Mr Obama to pass a healthcare reform bill - the most important domestic policy objective of his first year as president.
It was all of us against the machine Scott Brown Your comments on the result
The BBC's Paul Adams, in Boston, says Ms Coakley's defeat is a humiliating blow for the Democrats and their agenda, and a deeply unwelcome anniversary present for President Obama one year after his inauguration.
He adds that it is one the biggest political upsets in years, and a devastating blow for the Democrats in a seat held for almost half a century by Edward Kennedy, a colossus of the party.
In a celebratory speech, Mr Brown said that the voters of Massachusetts "defied the odds" and "delivered a great victory".
"It was all of us against the machine," he said.
FILIBUSTERING A method used to delay approval of laws by prolonging debateMay include large numbers of amendments, spurious points of order and very long speechesIf the session runs out of time, motions cannot be voted onFILIBUSTERING A method used to delay approval of laws by prolonging debateMay include large numbers of amendments, spurious points of order and very long speechesIf the session runs out of time, motions cannot be voted on
The BBC's Paul Adams, in Boston, says Martha Coakley's defeat is an absolutely humiliating blow for the Democrats and their agenda and a deeply unwelcome anniversary present for President Obama one year after his inauguration. Speaking to her supporters after conceding the election in a telephone call to Mr Brown, Ms Coakley admitted that she was "heartbroken at the result".
Speaking to her supporters after conceding defeat in a telephone call to Mr Brown, Ms Coakley defended her campaign.
"You poured your hearts and souls into the campaign. I will not forget the fierce determination with which we approached this," she said."You poured your hearts and souls into the campaign. I will not forget the fierce determination with which we approached this," she said.
The race should have been an easy win for Ms Coakley in a state which traditionally has voted for Democratic candidates for the US Senate. Lacklustre campaign
MAIN CANDIDATES MARTHA COAKLEY: Born in 1953; pursued a legal career and made a name for herself in child abuse cases, most notably that of Louise Woodward, a British nanny convicted of a baby's manslaughter in 1997; in 2006, became the state's first woman elected attorney general; if elected, would become the state's first female senatorSCOTT BROWN: Born in 1959; a lawyer, little-known Massachusetts state senator and National Guard member, although never deployed; running on a ticket of lowering taxes and "bringing common sense back to Washington" and made a signature issue of opposing President Obama's healthcare bill Analysts say the race should have been an easy win for Ms Coakley in a state which traditionally has voted for Democratic candidates for the US Senate.
But a lacklustre campaign allowed her Republican opponent - with vigorous support from conservative activists - to wrest the seat from her party.But a lacklustre campaign allowed her Republican opponent - with vigorous support from conservative activists - to wrest the seat from her party.
Ms Coakley said she had received a telephone call from President Obama, who had told her: "We can't win them all."Ms Coakley said she had received a telephone call from President Obama, who had told her: "We can't win them all."
White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said President Obama had called Mr Brown to congratulate him and to tell him he was looking forward to working with him.White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said President Obama had called Mr Brown to congratulate him and to tell him he was looking forward to working with him.
Analysts say that with opinion polls showing that nearly half of all Americans think President Obama is not delivering on his major campaign promises, the Massachusetts race could be seen as a referendum on his first year in office.Analysts say that with opinion polls showing that nearly half of all Americans think President Obama is not delivering on his major campaign promises, the Massachusetts race could be seen as a referendum on his first year in office.