Perhaps hidden among the rubble of the Haitian earthquake is a different kind of potentially earth-shattering upset in Massachussetts. Today is the special election between Democrat candidate Martha Coakley and Republican challenger Scott Brown. They are battling to see who will fill the seat held by the late Sen. Ted Kennedy.
Massachussetts has become as blue as it comes with the Kennedy dynasty firmly established there for generations. Which is why, until just recently, the victory of Martha Coakley was all but assumed. Not so anymore. Scott Brown gave a strong performance in the final debate and was closing the gap in the polls. He has since passed Coakley in the polls, and at last count was ahead of her by 5 points, 51-46%.
Why is this particular special election so significant? Because this election is about more than just Coakley or Brown. For many, it is being seen as a kind of referendum on what is happening on the healthcare debate that has been taking place in Congress over the past few months. President Obama's signature issue was moving through the legislative process (often being pushed through at times by the Democrat majority). And if Coakley wins, then the Senate majority stands at 60 seats, which further ensures that it is filibuster-proof, and the process continues at a steady rate.
If, on the other hand, Scott Brown pulls an upset and takes the seat, the Republicans would have just enough votes to further stymie what more and more people see as a piece of bad legislation.
The sheer irony of this situation in Massachussetts today is that it was Sen. Kennedy who was most fervently spearheading the push toward universal healthcare. And it may just be "his" seat which prevents it from happening. 
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