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Obama's party loses Kennedy seat | Obama's party loses Kennedy seat |
(10 minutes later) | |
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. | 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. |
The result is a huge blow to President Barack Obama, whose healthcare reform programme is now in doubt. | The result 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 early results gave Mr Brown a healthy lead. | Democrat Martha Coakley conceded she had lost the race after early 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. |
The independent voice of Massachusetts has spoken - the voters of this commonwealth defied the odds and the experts Scott Brown class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=7426">Your comments on the result class="" href="/2/hi/americas/8469359.stm">Revolution in Kennedy country class="" href="/2/hi/americas/8461136.stm">Obama approval ratings fall | |
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 a year after his inauguration. | |
He adds that it is one of 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 who died last year. | He adds that it is one of 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 who died last year. |
'Senator Beefcake' | |
In his victory speech, Mr Brown, 50, said that the voters of Massachusetts had "delivered a great victory". | In his victory speech, Mr Brown, 50, said that the voters of Massachusetts had "delivered a great victory". |
He said: "Tonight, the independent voice of Massachusetts has spoken. The voters of this commonwealth defied the odds and the experts." | |
This is a calamity for the Democratics, all the more on the very day the president has been in power a year Mark Mardell class="" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/markmardell/2010/01/what_a_difference_a_year_makes.html">Read more of Mark's thoughts | |
He also made it clear he would join his Republican colleagues in trying to block President Obama's healthcare reform proposals. | |
Dubbed Senator Beefcake in the US media, Mr Brown is a lawyer and former model who posed almost naked for Cosmopolitan magazine in the 1980s while in law school. | Dubbed Senator Beefcake in the US media, Mr Brown is a lawyer and former model who posed almost naked for Cosmopolitan magazine in the 1980s while in law school. |
After conceding the election in a telephone call to Mr Brown, Ms Coakley told her supporters she was "heartbroken at the result". | After conceding the election in a telephone call to Mr Brown, Ms Coakley told her supporters she was "heartbroken at the result". |
Mr Obama had campaigned personally on behalf of Ms Coakley. | |
Analysts say the race should have been an easy win for her in a state which traditionally has voted for Democratic candidates for the US Senate. | |
Just weeks ago, Ms Coakley, the state attorney general, had a double-digit lead in polls and seemed destined to win. | Just weeks ago, Ms Coakley, the state attorney general, had a double-digit lead in polls and seemed destined to win. |
Lacklustre campaign | |
But a lacklustre campaign allowed her Republican opponent - with vigorous support from conservative activists - to seize on voter discontent and overtake her in the final stretch. | But a lacklustre campaign allowed her Republican opponent - with vigorous support from conservative activists - to seize on voter discontent and overtake her in the final stretch. |
Martha Coakley vowed "to get up tomorrow and continue the fight" | |
Voters flocked to the polls through the snow and rain that fell all day on Tuesday. | Voters flocked to the polls through the snow and rain that fell all day on Tuesday. |
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. |
Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid said he would welcome Mr Brown to the Senate. | |
He added that senators "will move to seat him as soon as the proper paperwork has been received" from Massachusetts officials. | |
WHAT NEXT FOR OBAMA AGENDA? Obama's bid to reform healthcare and pass climate bill now in doubtOn healthcare, Democrats in House could pass bill already passed by SenateOr rush a compromise bill through before Scott Brown can take his seatBut that could spark a political backlash on Democrats, even if both houses could agree it so soonOn climate, cap-and-trade bill passed by the House faces even more difficulties in Senate class="" href="/2/hi/americas/8160058.stm">Q&A: US healthcare reform | |
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. | |
Correspondents say the vote may not bode well for the Democrats ahead of November's congressional elections, and that if they cannot hang on to a party stronghold such as Massachusetts they could be vulnerable almost anywhere. | |
The result was the third major loss for Democrats in state-wide elections since Obama became president: Republicans won governors' seats in Virginia and New Jersey in November. | |
President Obama has made healthcare his main domestic issue, seeking to revamp an expensive system that leaves nearly 50 million people uninsured. | |
Republicans have almost unanimously opposed his plans, saying it would lead to higher taxes and government meddling in healthcare decisions. |