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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.
FILIBUSTERING A method used to delay or postpone the passage of legislation by using various procedural devices during debatesThey include tabling large numbers of amendments, raising spurious points of order and making excessively long speeches in which there is a great deal of repetition and irrelevance If a parliament runs out of time for adequate discussion of bills or motions, then they cannot be voted on and will not be able to progress further
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 neckNeck 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 billMAIN 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.
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