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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 defeat for the Democrats, 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 | 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 - in a seat held for almost half a century by Edward Kennedy, a Democratic Party colossus, 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 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. | 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. | 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' | '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 Read more of Mark's thoughts | This is a calamity for the Democratics, all the more on the very day the president has been in power a year Mark Mardell 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. | 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." | "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. | 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. | 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. | Just weeks ago, Ms Coakley, the state attorney general, had a double-digit lead in polls and seemed destined to win. |
Martha Coakley was left pondering where it all went wrong | |
But a lacklustre campaign allowed her Republican opponent 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 told her: "We can't win them all." | |
Senior Republican figure Mitt Romney said the vote heralded a political sea-change. | 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. | "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 | 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 Q&A: US healthcare reform | 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 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. |