Scott Brown won

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**chaplaingrabthar**

CNN wrote:Boston, Massachusetts (CNN) -- Republican Scott Brown won a major upset victory in Tuesday's special election for the U.S. Senate seat formerly held by liberal Democrat Ted Kennedy.

With 89 percent of the results counted, Brown had 52 percent of the vote to 47 percent for Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley, the Democratic candidate, according to the the National Election Pool, a consortium of media organizations including CNN. Independent candidate Joseph Kennedy, a libertarian who is not related to the Kennedy political family of Massachusetts, had 1 percent.

Brown's victory made real the once unthinkable prospect of a Republican filling the seat held by Kennedy, known as the liberal lion, for almost 47 years until his death from brain cancer in August.

Voters across Massachusetts braved winter cold and snow for an election with high stakes -- the domestic agenda of President Obama, including his priority of health care reform.

Brown's victory strips Democrats of the 60-seat Senate supermajority needed to overcome GOP filibusters against future Senate action on a broad range of White House priorities. Senate Democrats needed all 60 votes in their caucus to pass the health care bill, and the loss of one seat imperils generating that support again for a compromise measure worked out with the House.

In a subdued concession speech, Coakley said she expected a tough assessment of her loss and lots of "Wednesday-morning quarterbacking" after losing a seat held by Democrats for more than 50 years.

"I am heartbroken at the result," Coakley said, later adding: "Although I am very disappointed, I always respect the voters' choice."

Massachusetts Secretary of State Bill Galvin said last week that certifying Tuesday's election results could take more than two weeks -- potentially enough time to allow congressional Democrats to pass a final health care bill before Brown is seated.

But multiple Democratic sources said this is unlikely. Even if House and Senate Democrats could reach a deal to meld their bills and pass them in the next couple of weeks, there would be a huge outcry from not only Republicans, but also an increasingly distrustful public if they appeared to be rushing it through.

Galvin had predicted as many as 2.2 million of the state's 4.5 million registered voters would vote -- at least double the turnout from December's primary. In one sign of high interest, more than 100,000 absentee ballots were requested ahead of the election, according to Galvin's spokesman, Brian McNiff.

Coakley was initially expected to easily win the race to replace Kennedy, who made health care reform the centerpiece of his Senate career.

Until recently, Brown was underfunded and unknown statewide. In addition, no Republican has won a U.S. Senate race in Massachusetts since 1972, and Democrats control the governorship, both houses of the state legislature, and the state's entire congressional delegation.

However, Brown surged in the weeks preceding Tuesday's vote and led in all the final polls.

Democratic sources told CNN that Coakley called Brown on Tuesday night to concede.

In a sign of the high stakes involved, the Coakley campaign held an afternoon news conference Tuesday to complain that voters in three places received ballots already marked for Brown.

iReport: Send us your thoughts on the special election

McNiff confirmed that the secretary of state's offices received two reports of voters saying they got pre-marked ballots. The suspect ballots were invalidated and the voters received new ballots, McNiff said.

Kevin Conroy, the Coakley campaign manager, said the "disturbing incidents" raised questions about the integrity of the election. In response, the Brown campaign issued a statement criticizing Coakley's team.

"Reports that the Coakley campaign is making reckless accusations regarding the integrity of today's election is a reminder that they are a desperate campaign," Daniel B. Winslow, the counsel for the Brown campaign, said in the statement.

Obama has been both "surprised and frustrated" by the race, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said Tuesday.

Obama and former President Bill Clinton hit the campaign trail over the past three days in an attempt to save Coakley's campaign, which observers say was hampered by complacency and missteps.

Obama crushed Sen. John McCain in Massachusetts in 2008, beating the GOP presidential nominee by 26 points.

"If you were fired up in the last election, I need you more fired up in this election," Obama urged a crowd at a Coakley campaign rally on Sunday.

Vicki Kennedy, the late senator's widow, called on state Democrats to turn out to save her husband's legacy.

"We need your help. We need your support. We need you to get out there and vote on Tuesday," Kennedy said. "We need you to bring your neighbors. We need you to bring your friends."

Brown, who has trumpeted his 30 years of service in the National Guard, hewed to traditional GOP themes at the end of the campaign. He promised at a rally Sunday that, if elected, he would back tax cuts and be tougher on terrorists than Coakley.

He also repeated a pledge to oppose Obama's health care reform effort.
Video: Who will get Kennedy's seat?
Video: CNN analyst assesses key race
Video: Race for Ted Kennedy's seat
Video: Obama campaigns in Massachusetts
RELATED TOPICS

* Massachusetts
* Martha Coakley
* Scott Brown
* Edward M. Kennedy
* Health Care Reform

"Massachusetts wants real reform and not this trillion-dollar Obama health care that is being forced on the American people," he said. "As the 41st [Republican] senator I will make sure that we do it better."

Forty-four percent of Massachusetts voters cited the economy and jobs as their top concern in a recent 7 News/Suffolk University poll. Thirty-eight percent mentioned health care as their top concern.

Voters more concerned with the economy were split almost evenly between the two candidates; voters more worried about health care narrowly supported Coakley.

Brown's surprising strength came in part because some independents and conservatives who have supported Democrats in the past were having second thoughts.

Democrats far outnumber Republicans in Massachusetts, but there are more independents than Democrats and Republicans combined.

Several Democratic sources say multiple Obama advisers have told the party they believed Coakley was going to lose, despite Obama's campaign appearance for Coakley on Sunday.

Facing the possibility of Coakley's defeat, Democrats were trying to figure out if they could pass health care reform without that crucial 60th Senate vote.

The seat is currently held by former Kennedy aide and longtime friend Paul Kirk, who was appointed to the seat on an interim basis.

Two Democratic sources in close contact with the White House told CNN on Monday they've urged the administration, in the event of a Brown victory, to push House Democrats to pass the Senate's health care bill as currently written. Doing so would prevent the plan from having to be taken up by the Senate again.

"I think the Senate bill clearly is better than nothing," House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Maryland, said Tuesday.

A third option would be for Democrats to revisit the idea of trying to push health care through the Senate with only 51 votes -- a simple majority.

But to do that Democrats would have to use a process known as reconciliation, which presents technical and procedural issues that would delay the process for a long time. A number of Democrats are eager to put the health care debate behind them and move on to economic issues such as job creation as soon as possible this election year.

Senate Democrats could also try again to get moderate GOP Sen. Olympia Snowe of Maine to vote for a compromise health reform plan. Multiple Democratic sources, however, have said they believe that is unlikely now.

CNN's Jim Acosta, Dana Bash, Kevin Bohn, Ed Henry, Ed Hornick, John King, Suzanne Malveaux, Shawna Shepherd, Jessica Yellin, Alan Silverleib and Tom Cohen contributed to this report.

**JEB_Stuart**

Yep, this will make the election cycle this year that much more interesting.

**mattyrm**

I didnt see that coming.... on a serious note, after obama the fething musical and the ridiculous nobel prize, i knew that the young American voters would now be realising what us young brits have known for a while now. All politicians are lying gakkers! :-)

**Tyyr**

Never underestimate the stupidity of college kids.

**gorgon**

"We did it! We did it! We stopped healthcare reform! Woo-hoo!"

...time passes...

"Y'know, the healthcare system really sucks. Why doesn't someone DO something about it?"

The American people in a nutshell.

**Frazzled**

gorgon wrote:"We did it! We did it! We stopped the horror show! Woo-hoo!"

...time passes...

"Y'know, the healthcare system really sucks. Why doesn't someone DO something about it?"

The American people in a nutshell.

Corrected your typo.

**generalgrog**

I thought it was illegal to vote republican in Massachussetts.

GG

**Frazzled**

So did they.

**Empchild**

generalgrog wrote:I thought it was illegal to vote republican in Massachussetts.

GG

NO NO you got it wrong. It is illegal to vote LEGALLY in mass!

<------Masshole right here folks.

This is the first time since 1972 a senator that is republican has been voted into office in mass.

OOO btw people this wasn't as much about health care. Mass has mandatory health care laws as every citizen has to have some form of it. They have made cost effective health care for everyone. What the president propossed in times like these would bankrupt the nation. Also europe has free health care yes? but last I checked your guys taxes are through the roof. What it came down to was Martha Coakley(his democratic opponent) ran a horrid campaign. She spent no time actually stating her beliefs and supports and instead posted a negative campaign against her opponent. Scott Brown on the other hand I never saw a SINGLE NOT ONE SINGLE negative add. This guy drove around in a truck to show he was a working man, and I think he ran a good well planned campaign. All that said BTW I am a democrat, but recently more moderate and heck I LOVE THIS GUY!!!

**Altered_Soul**

There's a reason Mass. voters don't trust Republicans, especially when it came to running the local state government.

This isn't that surprising though, the local animosity towards incumbents finally came through on a federal level. It was aided by a cocksure campaign by the Dem, and the fact that she isn't a Kennedy.

**Frazzled**

Empchild wrote:
generalgrog wrote:I thought it was illegal to vote republican in Massachussetts.

GG

NO NO you got it wrong. It is illegal to vote LEGALLY in mass!

<------Masshole right here folks.

This is the first time since 1972 a senator that is republican has been voted into office in mass.

OOO btw people this wasn't as much about health care. Mass has mandatory health care laws as every citizen has to have some form of it. They have made cost effective health care for everyone. What the president propossed in times like these would bankrupt the nation. Also europe has free health care yes? but last I checked your guys taxes are through the roof. What it came down to was Martha Coakley(his democratic opponent) ran a horrid campaign. She spent no time actually stating her beliefs and supports and instead posted a negative campaign against her opponent. Scott Brown on the other hand I never saw a SINGLE NOT ONE SINGLE negative add. This guy drove around in a truck to show he was a working man, and I think he ran a good well planned campaign. All that said BTW I am a democrat, but recently more moderate and heck I LOVE THIS GUY!!!

actually exit polling shows that it really was.

**Empchild**

which part you talking about frazzled?

**Tyyr**

You can't deny the fact that electing a Republican would break the majority the Democrats held and make it impossible to just bulldoze legislation through without regard for the GOP. Not the Dems were doing it before but at least it was still a possibility. While I'm all for choosing your own leaders based on what you need and want you can't deny the national implications of electing a Republican to the old drunk's seat. Add to it that the hot topic of the moment is health care reform and it gets very hard to say that one had nothing to do with the other.

At the very least the bluest of the blue states put a member of the GOP into Teddy Kennedy's seat. That alone expresses a deep dissatisfaction with the way the dems have been performing so far crappy campaign on her part or not.

**Frazzled**

Empchild wrote:which part you talking about frazzled?

Exit polling showed that the current health abomination bill was a major factor for independents.

**gorgon**

The midterm elections will be interesting. The Dems will lose seats because that's what would happen even if times were rosy, but it'll be interesting to see if this race serves as an object lesson for the Dems and helps them limit the damage in November.

That of course assumes the Dems can stop bickering long enough to pay attention. You could have 10 Dems in a room with one GOP member and the Dems would somehow get outvoted.

**Da Boss**

Certainly seems that way from over here. The republicans seem much more willing to exploit senate loopholes to kick the crap into the democrats, and the democrats seem disorganised, lacking in unity, and sort of toothless.

I wonder why they don't just leave healthcare entirely up to the states themselves? The more I pay attention to the US the more I feel I'd be in favour of more state by state stuff, rather than federal programs.

**Crimson Devil**

I belong to no organized party. I am a Democrat. -- Will Rogers

**Frazzled**

Da Boss wrote:

I wonder why they don't just leave healthcare entirely up to the states themselves? The more I pay attention to the US the more I feel I'd be in favour of more state by state stuff, rather than federal programs.

Because thats how it is SUPPOSED to be. Frankly we can't have that now can we?

**Da Boss**

I was talking to a friend from the states about it, and he reckons it'd be inefficient, because money is already invested at a federal level. That seems unfortunate. I like the idea of the states running their own affairs moreso. Seems like it would work out more democratic in the end.

**Orkestra**

Anyone have any more information on the possibility of the race being strongly influenced by American Tea Party backing? I was hearing about it on my way to work (gawd, American politics leave me grumpy during my morning commute), and I'm interested if any 'mercans can give me the scoop on how much of a factor those Tea Party dudes really are.

**Altered_Soul**

Orkestra wrote:Anyone have any more information on the possibility of the race being strongly influenced by American Tea Party backing? I was hearing about it on my way to work (gawd, American politics leave me grumpy during my morning commute), and I'm interested if any 'mercans can give me the scoop on how much of a factor those Tea Party dudes really are.

Not much in Massachussetts. MA went for a GOP member because he didn't say anything ridiculously slowed during his campaign. Pissing off moderate MA people is stupid stupid stupid, no matter the general consensus of its "state color".

Just read up a little on Coakley's politicin', it isn't pretty, and being a MA person myself (in former times), I'd be pissed too. And that's the general consensus of most of my family still living there (though they are generally conservative to begin with).

Not that Brown is a shining knight. Like I said before, the choices usually come down to "ineffectual Dem" vs "potentially corrupt Republican" (what is the short hand for Republican? It isn't Rep, that's Representative...). Long line of mistrust of politicians in MA.

**sexiest_hero**

Congrats on the win, that ran a better campaign and the Democrats didn't even bother to run. I won't whine or complain about koolaid or threaten to leave the Union, I will say I hope people will work on fixing the problems in America than blaming Others. We blame, poor mothers and give rich gluttons a pass because they are easy targets, We blame Minorities for the housing crash instead of greed over building and flat out lieing, backs. We blame and arrest Mexicans for coming over here to work, and never the companies that keep hiring them. We let companies claim the cheapest place for taxes then wonder why we don't make enough in taxes. We blame people for not having jobs while we let companies ship jobs to China. We dog China and call them evil while, we ship all our jobs to them to save a buck. We let companies pull in record profits but not lay on them to cut prices or hire more people. We put somebody in jail for a blunt while companies can rip people and get a slap on the wrist. A guy selling weed will get 20 years while wealthy or famous people get caught with tons of drugs on MTV and nobody does a thing. We elect people based on what they won't do rather than what they will do. We never care about something till it happens to us.

As for Politicans all being liers, THEY have to be, if somebody has a single fault people will use it aginst them. even If it hs nothing to do with his job.

I love my country, and respect it. I love the land and don't to see it dispoiled, When I lived in Ohio, I remember seeing green sunset over cinncinati. I love the people and don't want to see them suffer from bad air. I love our Children and don't want to see them starve because of lack of welfare, after the otherside covinced mom to have the baby even if dad isn't around and she can't afford it. I love the people and hate to see them suffer from lack of care because their job got shipped overseas. I hate to see us send money to Oil produing dountires that hate us when thier could be a better way to make energy (even if it costs more.) I just belive we can care for all our citizens,we don't have to depend on dead plant juice from the middle east, and our land and animals should be protected. If that makes me a communist, socialist, nazi, unAmerican, libral, terrorist fist bumping scum so be it. As a democrat christian I'll love you anyways, no matter what you call me. Again congrats on the win, Hopefully we'll put up a better fight next time.

**Fateweaver**

That's my big issue with Health Care. Let the states take care of their own business. The People represent the Federal government and trying to shove this pork barrel down our throats wether we want it or not is basically giving the middle finger to America.

At least now with Brown having TK's seat it means the HCR Bill isn't going anywhere. Maybe now Obama will get some work done.

I'm not the richest man ever but I've had Healthcare through every job I've ever held because I realize without it I'd be hard pressed to pay medical bills. My insurance paying 70% of my doctor bill for a broken arm is huge but it should still be MY choice, not the governments choice.

On the other hand if I'm someone who is a billionaire like Steve Jobs or Bill Gates I don't feel I need health care. I mean really, someone like those 2 could walk in, slap a Visa on the counter and walk out afterwards and not even feel the pinch of a $4k broken arm medical bill paid for in full by them but yet the Obama plan calls for those 2 to HAVE Healthcare or get fined.

It basically leads to people not NEEDING Health Care financially having to pay for it anyway to "fill the coffers" so to speak so that those who can't afford it can get it. This will mean an increase to my insurance policy. NO THANK YOU.

**Ouze**

You know, at this stage of my life I'm still fascinated by the game, but I don't root for any of the teams playing. I lean fairly strongly liberal but consider all the major parties to be clownshoes-wearing failpants. That being said, I'm glad that Martha Croakley lost. She just didn't deserve it, imo, and she certainly didn't seem to want it enough to work for it.

I'd still like a healthcare reform of some type at some point, as I feel every American should have some form of healthcare even if they can't afford it. However what they have proposed right now... corporate welfare for insurance companies with a captive customer base - is an utter travesty and I'm glad this guy will help slow it down or possibly stop it.

Automatically Appended Next Post:

Orkestra wrote:Anyone have any more information on the possibility of the race being strongly influenced by American Tea Party backing? I was hearing about it on my way to work (gawd, American politics leave me grumpy during my morning commute), and I'm interested if any 'mercans can give me the scoop on how much of a factor those Tea Party dudes really are.

It depends on the state and the race. So far, their influence has ranged from "disastrous" (they ousted the republican candidate, who was a sure bet but was not considered ideologically pure, and as a result, a democrat won the seat for the first time in 160 years) to "meh", as it doesn't seem they had much effect on this last one.

**Fateweaver**

Nice avatar Ouze.