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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 Your comments on the result Revolution in Kennedy country 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.
'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 independent voice of Massachusetts has spoken. The voters of this commonwealth defied the odds and the experts." He said: "Tonight, 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 clear he would join his Republican colleagues in trying to block President Obama's healthcare reform proposals.
He also made it 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".
Mr Obama had campaigned personally on behalf of Ms Coakley. 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
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. Sen Robert Menendez, head of the Senate Democrats' campaign committee, said he had "no interest in sugar-coating" the result.
Just weeks ago, Ms Coakley, the state attorney general, had a double-digit lead in polls and seemed destined to win. "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 campaignLacklustre 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. 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.
Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid said he would welcome Mr Brown to the Senate. 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
He added that senators "will move to seat him as soon as the proper paperwork has been received" from Massachusetts officials. Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid said Mr Brown could take his seat "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 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.
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. The result comes amid opinion polls showing nearly half of Americans think President Obama is not delivering on his major campaign promises.
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. 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.
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.