Republican wins Massachusetts

Republican Scott Brown has won the race for the US Senate seat in the state of Massachusetts left vacant by the death of Edward Kennedy.



Democrat Martha Coakley conceded that she had lost the election after partial results gave Mr. Brown a healthy lead.



Her defeat is a huge blow to President Barack Obama, whose healthcare reform programme is now in doubt.



The Republican win has robbed the Democrats of their filibuster proof 60-seat majority in the Senate.



This will make it much harder for President Obama to pass a healthcare reform bill.



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