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Massachusetts holds key election | Massachusetts holds key election |
(19 minutes later) | |
Voters are preparing to go to the polls in Massachusetts in a special election to fill the US Senate seat left vacant by Edward Kennedy's death last August. | Voters are preparing to go to the polls in Massachusetts in a special election to fill the US Senate seat left vacant by Edward Kennedy's death last August. |
The race, between Democratic Attorney General Martha Coakley and conservative Republican state senator Scott Brown, is unexpectedly close. | The race, between Democratic Attorney General Martha Coakley and conservative Republican state senator Scott Brown, is unexpectedly close. |
If it goes to Mr Brown, the Democrats will lose their filibuster-proof 60-seat majority in the 100-seat Senate. | If it goes to Mr Brown, the Democrats will lose their filibuster-proof 60-seat majority in the 100-seat Senate. |
This would make it harder for Barack Obama to pass a healthcare reform bill. | This would make it harder for Barack Obama to pass a healthcare reform bill. |
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 a parliament runs out of time, motions cannot be voted on | |
Healthcare reform is the most important domestic policy objective of his first year as president. | Healthcare reform is the most important domestic policy objective of his first year as president. |
Polls will open at 0700 local time (1200 GMT) and close at 2000 (0100 GMT on Wednesday). Results are expected soon thereafter, although it could take a little longer if it is as close as expected. | Polls will open at 0700 local time (1200 GMT) and close at 2000 (0100 GMT on Wednesday). Results are expected soon thereafter, although it could take a little longer if it is as close as expected. |
On the eve of Barack Obama's first year in office, it is the Republicans who are in a mood to celebrate BBC Washington correspondent Philippa Thomas Republicans on the offensive | |
The BBC's Paul Adams, in Boston, says this Senate race should have been a formality for the Democrats - they outnumber Republicans in Massachusetts by around three to one, and the seat being contested was controlled by the Kennedy family for more than half a century. | The BBC's Paul Adams, in Boston, says this Senate race should have been a formality for the Democrats - they outnumber Republicans in Massachusetts by around three to one, and the seat being contested was controlled by the Kennedy family for more than half a century. |
But Ms Coakley has run a lacklustre campaign, allowing her Republican opponent - with vigorous support from conservative activists - to overtake her in the polls. | But Ms Coakley has run a lacklustre campaign, allowing her Republican opponent - with vigorous support from conservative activists - to overtake her in the polls. |
Neck and neck | Neck and neck |
Mr Obama went to Boston on Sunday to lend support to the Coakley campaign, a sign of the growing apprehension felt by the White House. | Mr Obama went to Boston on Sunday to lend support to the Coakley campaign, a sign of the growing apprehension felt by the White House. |
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 | 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 |
Money, activists and party officials have been pouring in from both sides, and in a recent 24-hour internet fundraising drive, Mr Brown collected about $1.3m (£0.79m). | Money, activists and party officials have been pouring in from both sides, and in a recent 24-hour internet fundraising drive, Mr Brown collected about $1.3m (£0.79m). |
On the Coakley side, supporters have been operating some 60 phone banks that have already made nearly 600,000 calls urging people to vote and are expected to have called a million voters by Tuesday. | On the Coakley side, supporters have been operating some 60 phone banks that have already made nearly 600,000 calls urging people to vote and are expected to have called a million voters by Tuesday. |
And with millions of dollars being spent by the campaigns and outside groups, it is almost impossible to find advertisements for anything else on television, the New York Times reports. | And with millions of dollars being spent by the campaigns and outside groups, it is almost impossible to find advertisements for anything else on television, the New York Times reports. |
The Democrats believe that their relentless portrayal of Mr Brown as a friend of Wall Street is working, but with heavy snow blanketing much of the state, motivating supporters to show up and vote will be critical. | The Democrats believe that their relentless portrayal of Mr Brown as a friend of Wall Street is working, but with heavy snow blanketing much of the state, motivating supporters to show up and vote will be critical. |
Analysts say that with opinion polls showing 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 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. |
Are you a voter in Massachusetts? What issues matter most you? Why is the race so close? You can send us your views using the form below. | Are you a voter in Massachusetts? What issues matter most you? Why is the race so close? You can send us your views using the form below. |
A selection of your comments may be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. | A selection of your comments may be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. |
The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |