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January 19, 2010

Republican May Win Senate Seat in Masschusetts
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In Massachusetts, polls have opened in the closely watched special
election to fill the Senate seat held for nearly five decades by the
late Ted Kennedy. Up until recently, the state Democratic Attorney
General Martha Coakley was expected to easily win the race, but the
latest polls suggest Republican State Senator Scott Brown could pull out
a stunning upset. A Brown victory would deny Democrats the sixtieth vote
they need in the Senate to surmount a possible Republican filibuster of
the major healthcare reform package, which still needs to be reconciled
by the Senate and House. If Brown wins the election, Democratic leaders
could press the House to pass the Senate bill without change.



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