Talk is everywhere on the internet, cable and broadcast news as soon as the results of the special election to fill the late Sen. Edward Kennedy’s seat were known – Republican Scott Brown handily defeated Democrat, Mass. Attorney General, Martha Coakley. Prior to the election, it was felt by many that Coakley was a shoe-in to fill the lofty ‘Kennedy Seat’ in the Senate.
Many report surprise at the results, but a cruise through various blogs and news sites shows that Democrats are scrambling to blame someone, anyone for the debacle. One Washington Post blog stated that immediately, “daggers were drawn over whose fault it was.”
Here in Maryland, the Democratic reaction was not dissimilar. According to a Baltimore Sun blog, Rep. Chris Van Hollen, a Maryland Democrat and chair of Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee stated that, “Bush and House Republicans drove our economy into a ditch and tried to run away from the accident.” He indicated, only moments after the results were in, that the Democrats currently in office have been trying to fix the economy ever since winning a super majority in both houses.
While many Democrats blame Coakley herself for her lack of campaign acumen and her inability to connect with the electorate, Republicans see the victory as a clearly defined message to the current Democratic power base in Washington – Watch out in November, we are coming.
With Brown’s victory, the ‘Super Majority’ enjoyed by the Democrats in the Senate – 60 to 40 – passing legislation became more difficult. Certainly, President Obama’s dream of healthcare reform may have been dealt a huge body shot, knocking the wind out of any possibility of smooth sailing or passage before the 2010 elections.
Political pundits who had already predicted a 20-seat swing in the House are now predicting even more doom and gloom for Democrats. If nothing else, the coming campaigns and pre-election rhetoric should be entertaining; perhaps an understatement.
