So, a Republican has convincingly won Ted Kennedy’s former Senate seat …..After opposing health reform. And supporting the waterboarding of terrorists. And appearing as a nude centrefold! But, most importantly, in a state where Democrats outnumber Republicans by three to one. Scott Brown’s victory can be seen as a referendum on US healthcare reform – and Obama’s first year in office – the anniversary of which falls today.
Judy Viitanen stayed up into the small hours to listen to the coverage and to see victory for Scott Brown, a state senator and property lawyer. He won by 52 per cent to 47 per cent over Democrat Martha Coakley, the state’s attorney general. Judy was not impressed by her campaign – which PRimage believe was poorly-run, unexciting and uninspired! She also made a number of gaffes - taking Christmas week off from campaigning and misspelling the state’s name in an advertisement!
The result means that the Democrats have lost the 60-seat majority in the senate that enables them to close debate on legislation. And the president’s cherished health care reform is now in grave danger of failing or being forced back to the drawing board, along with plans to tax carbon emissions and other ambitious items on his agenda. Obama now has the highest disapproval rating in the history of Gallup polling for a president entering his second year in office. In our view he has been handed a series of political humiliations. Watch this space!