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Version 27 | Version 28 |
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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. |
'Senator Beefcake' | 'Senator Beefcake' |
The BBC's Paul Adams, in Boston, says Ms Coakley's defeat is a humiliating loss for the Democrats and their agenda, and a deeply unwelcome anniversary present for President Obama exactly one year after his inauguration. | |
This is a referendum on the Barack Obama agenda and a way of working in Washington, an arrogant approach to politics Mitt Romney Senior Republican Your comments on the result Revolution in Kennedy country Obama approval ratings fall | |
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. | |
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 voters of this commonwealth defied the odds and the experts." | |
He also made clear he would join his Republican colleagues in trying to block President Obama's healthcare reform proposals. | |
Mr Brown led Ms Coakley by 52% to 47% with virtually all votes counted; a third candidate got less than one per cent. | |
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. |
'No sugar-coating' | |
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". |
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 | |
Sen Robert Menendez, head of the Senate Democrats' campaign committee, said he had "no interest in sugar-coating" the result. | |
"There is a lot of anxiety in the country right now," he added. "Americans are understandably impatient." | |
President 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 has traditionally voted for Democratic candidates for the US Senate. | |
Lacklustre campaign | Lacklustre campaign |
Just weeks ago, Ms Coakley, the state attorney general, had a double-digit lead in polls and seemed destined to win. | |
Martha Coakley vowed "to get up tomorrow and continue the fight" | Martha Coakley vowed "to get up tomorrow and continue the fight" |
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. | |
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." |
Senior Republican figure Mitt Romney said the vote heralded a political sea-change. | |
"This is really a referendum on the Barack Obama agenda and I think a way of working in Washington, which is kind of an arrogant approach to politics in this country," the former presidential candidate told Fox News. | |
Third major loss | |
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. |
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 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 | |
Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid said Mr Brown could take his seat "as soon as the proper paperwork has been received" from Massachusetts officials. | |
Correspondents say the vote does 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 comes amid opinion polls showing nearly half of Americans think President Obama is not delivering on his major campaign promises. | |
It was the third major loss for Democrats in state-wide elections since he became president: Republicans won governors' seats in Virginia and New Jersey in November. | |