VOTERS IN Massachusetts have voted in the tightly fought race for the late Edward Kennedy’s Senate seat that has turned into a referendum on Barack Obama’s presidency.
A combination of snow and rain may have depressed voter turnout, which would probably have suited the Republicans. But early visits to polling booths showed queues of cars, suggesting the national prominence the contest has achieved may have motivated voters.
A Republican win in this traditionally Democrat state would create panic in the ranks of Democratic members of Congress who face midterm elections in November. It would also complicate the passage of Mr Obama’s health reform Bill.
The Democrats, slow to wake up to the Republican threat, have poured campaign workers and union activists into the state over the last five days in a frantic push to get their supporters to the polling booths. They said their campaign team had contacted one million people by phone since Friday.
Corey Welford, a spokesman for the Democratic candidate, Martha Coakley, said: “We feel like we have gained great momentum over the last few days.”
The Republicans do not have a strong organisational network in the state and have fewer workers out, but they hoped this would have been outweighed by apparent voter apathy among Democratic supporters.
A low turnout would have helped the Republicans and the poor weather might have encouraged wavering Democrats against a trip to the polling station.
The campaign of the Republican, Scott Brown, has been driven by conservatives angry over the Obama administration’s health plans, increased federal spending and high unemployment.
Although polls suggested a tight finish, with the latest showing Mr Brown with a slight lead, the Republicans were discounting them. “The polls have been up and down,” said Tarah Donoghue, a member of Mr Brown’s team.
Ms Coakley had adopted a low- key strategy until the last week, which Democrats now accept was a mistake in the face of the aggressive one conducted by Mr Brown.
Backbiting is already under way within the Democratic Party.
The White House and party headquarters in Washington were blaming Ms Coakley for complacency while the party in Massachusetts sees the close race as a reflection of voter unhappiness with the Obama administration.
If Ms Coakley wins, Mr Obama can move forward as planned with his health Bill, in the hope of having it signed before he delivers the state of the union address on January 27th. This would only require the House and Senate to resolve their differing versions of the Bill.
If Mr Brown wins, the Democrats would lose their filibuster-proof 60-40 majority in the Senate and the Obama administration would have to have a major rethink.
Various alternative plans under discussion in Washington include the House accepting the Senate version, which would then require only a simple majority.
The risk for Mr Obama is that some Democratic members of Congress facing election in November and already sceptical about the health Bill might decide to withdraw their earlier backing.
With so much at stake, both parties and their backers have spent millions of dollars over the last few days. Political advertisements have being appearing almost non-stop on television in Massachusetts, squeezing out commercial advertisements.
One conservative group, Our Country Deserves Better, which opposes higher taxes, has spent $348,000 (€243,000) in support of Mr Brown.
The Democrats have spent $750,000 on getting Ms Coakley’s voters out, and supporting groups have added hundreds of thousands more. She also attracted the support of unions, who have sent members from neighbouring states to help with canvassing.
A third candidate, Joe Kennedy – no relation to the late senator – for the Libertarians, was polling in single digits. – ( Guardianservice)