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The Massachusetts Senate race

Mass appeal

A stunning Republican victory in a Senate race in Massachusetts deals a blow to Barack Obama

Jan 20th 2010 | NEW YORK
From Economist.com

IT WAS a sign of how bad Democratic expectations were for the Senate race in Massachusetts that the knives were out even before the polls had closed. The election, in a state where Democrats heavily outnumber Republicans (and independents account for around half of the electorate), was held to replace Ted Kennedy, a Democratic stalwart who died last year. Mr Kennedy's last legislative priority had been to push for a health-care bill. Now Scott Brown, a Republican former model, will replace him, having won by a five-point margin. This gives the Republicans 41 seats in the Senate, enough for a filibuster to block legislation.

Martha Coakley, the Democratic candidate, was uninspired and dull. Mr Brown’s surge in the polls came when she was on holiday, believing there was little chance she could lose. She made several gaffes on the campaign, at one point implying that she had better things to do than meeting voters in the cold, later failing to recognise a legendary pitcher for the local Boston Red Sox baseball team. Her lacklustre style, against an energetic Mr Brown, failed to impress a grumpy electorate in an anti-incumbent mood.

The election is an extremely serious blow to the agenda of Barack Obama. He made a late swing through Massachusetts to stump for Ms Coakley, but failed to help. His ability to pull Democrats out of the fires of voter anger is now in question. The White House blames Ms Coakley. Mr Obama’s most senior political adviser, David Axelrod, said even before election day had ended, somewhat testily, that the White House had done everything that the Coakley campaign had asked.

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This got global coverage today.  Economist is one of the most well read magazines with the longest standing loyal clientele... e.g., I have read Economist now.. for over 4 decades, at least once a week, and lately almost daily.  This is one of the most serious and analytical news sources and when they cover news, it is read top to bottom, and not cursorily.

Scott Brown will be a known name globally if he chooses to run for the WH.