Massachusetts holds crucial Senate election

People in the US state of Massachusetts are voting in a special election to fill the Senate seat left vacant by the late Edward Kennedy last August.



The race, between Democratic Attorney General Martha Coakley and conservative Republican state senator Scott Brown, is unexpectedly close.



Anaysts say if Mr Brown wins, the Democrats will lose their 60-seat majority in the 100-seat Senate.



This would make it harder for Barack Obama to pass a healthcare reform bill.



Healthcare reform is the most important domestic policy objective of his first year as president.



Results are expected sometime tomorrow.