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Brown Wins Mass. Senate Seat

Republican upset puts Dems' national agenda at risk

By Will McCahill,  Newser Staff

Posted Jan 19, 2010 8:26 PM CST | Updated Jan 19, 2010 8:39 PM CST
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(Newser) – Scott Brown scored an enormous Republican upset today, winning the Massachusetts US Senate seat long held by the late Ted Kennedy by a 52%-47% margin over Democrat Martha Coakley. The loss sunders the Democrats’ filibuster-proof, 60-vote supermajority in the Senate, and throws into doubt the future of health-care reform—along with much of President Obama’s yet-unfinished business.

“I bet they can hear this cheering all the way in Washington,” Brown, a 50-year-old state senator, said in his victory speech. “I hope they’re paying close attention because tonight the independent voice of Massachusetts has spoken.” President Obama called both Brown and Coakley, congratulating the former on “his victory and a well-run campaign,” the White House said in a statement. Coakley, criticized for a lackluster campaign, said she was “heartbroken,” and that “everyone—including me—will be brutally honest” in the postmortems.

Democratic candidate and Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley, left, and her husband Thomas F. O'Connor, Jr. wave after voting today.
Democratic candidate and Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley, left, and her husband Thomas F. O'Connor, Jr. wave after voting today.   (AP Photo)
Republican Scott Brown holds up a copy of the Boston Herald as he celebrates in Boston tonight.
Republican Scott Brown holds up a copy of the Boston Herald as he celebrates in Boston tonight.   (AP Photo)
Massachusetts state senator Scott Brown speaks at a rally yesterday.
Massachusetts state senator Scott Brown speaks at a rally yesterday.   (AP Photo)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 114 comments
Derni
Jan 20, 2010 11:54 AM CST
Well big business takes over getting their agenda through-people with no health care-pre-existing conditions will be keeping you from getting insurance and insurance companies will be able to drop you when uoi begin to cost them too much--welcome to america where we take care of our peopke just like Canda-and some other Scandanavian countries..America will continue to move lower in education-health care and other areas,,time to look for another place to live and die
scottaf68
Jan 20, 2010 11:53 AM CST
AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
cornelison
Jan 20, 2010 11:10 AM CST
To the critics & deficit hawks here; Remember when the republicans waved a document in front of the cameras? They said it was their economic plan. Don't you think that you deserve to know what their plan is?

 
Senate Democrats • Ted Kennedy • Senate Republicans • Edward Brooke • President Obama • upset • Martha Coakley • Scott Brown • Massachusetts senate race • martha coakley vs scott brown • recriminations

More Newser Stories

Mass. Election Could Seal Fate of Health Reform

Patrick Kennedy Slams Scott Brown

Prez Contradictions Caught Up With Dems

Kennedy Son: Voters Wanted 'Blood'

Brown Widens Gap, Takes 9-Point Lead Over Coakley
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