Inside the Park Plaza hotel in Boston, thousands of Brown supporters packed the second-floor ballroom chanting, "John Kerry's next, John Kerry's next." Later the chant went up, "Yes we did, Yes we did," a tweak at Mr. Obama's 2008 signature line.
"Let them take a look at what happened in Massachusetts," Mr. Brown said in his victory speech, referring to the coming midterm elections. "What happened here in Massachusetts can happen all over the country."
At Coakley headquarters, the mood grew somber as it became clear that a loss was at hand, and some started dissecting where the campaign went wrong. In her concession speech, Ms. Coakley said she received a call from Mr. Obama, who told her, "We can't win them all." Ms. Coakley added: "Though our campaign ends tonight we know our mission goes on."
Other Democratic priorities are now also uncertain. Although they still hold substantial majorities in both chambers, nervous Democrats with an eye on November midterm elections could start to keep their distance from the White House. Senate Banking Committee Chairman Christopher Dodd (D., Conn.) will be under pressure to negotiate with Republicans who oppose the administration's overhaul of financial regulation, another centerpiece bill, congressional aides said. The loss also sparked what could become a bitter fight between liberals who urged Democrats to keep on course with health care, and centrists who argued the party needed to focus on the economy. Some of the latter suggested the party drop its health-care overhaul altogether.
Mr. Brown will become the 41st Republican in the Senate, breaking the Democratic Party's 60-vote majority, and ensuring the minority has enough votes to block legislation.
The election results signal challenges for Democratic prospects in midterm elections this fall, when the party will try to protect its majorities in the House and Senate. A handful of Democrats facing competitive races have announced plans to retire, and party officials are trying to prevent more following suit. Republicans, too, face challenges as the party navigates internal strife between anti-establishment activists and the party's Washington leadership, which remains unpopular.
Independents, who appeared to swing for Mr. Brown in Massachusetts, tend to be more anti-incumbent than anti-Democrat. A new Wall Street Journal/NBC poll shows nearly six in 10 independent voters think it's time to "give a new person a chance" rather than reelect their representatives. About half of all voters feel that way.
In Littleton, Mass., Alex Olsen, a professor at the University of Massachusetts and an independent, said he's fed up with Mr. Obama and the Democratic majority. He voiced strong discontent with efforts to push the health bill through the Senate. "They're just trying to ram things down our throats," said Mr. Olsen, 65. |
