Is Scott Brown's victory in Massachusetts a sign of things to come? (Photo Credit: Getty Images)
Washington (CNN) – Political analysts say that emotions played as big a role as issues in Republican Scott Brown's earthshaking win this week in traditionally Democratic Massachusetts.
Related: Mr. Brown goes to Washington
And those emotions will appear likely to influence the rest of the political season into the November midterm elections.
"People are so angry out here in the real world they can't see straight," political analyst Jennifer Donahue said.
Independent voters can break an election. It happened in 2008 and once again in 2010.
A day after his victory to fill Ted Kennedy's old Senate seat, Brown said Wednesday the one thing he heard the most during his campaign was that people were tired of business as usual.
"That means the behind-the-scenes deals. ... They want to make sure that their elected officials are doing things in a transparent manner, and doing it with the best interests of our state and mine."
Related video: What's next for health care?
Follow Ed Hornick on Twitter: @hornickcnn
From CNN Politics
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WAY TO GO BROWN, ONE DAY IN OFFICE AND YOU KILL THE STOCK MARKET!!!
I don't think Scott Brown's victory in Massachussetts is an accurate reflection of a GOP comback, and it certainly IS NOT an accurate reflection of people being fedup with the government.
This is a reflection of the Democrats assuming they would win that seat and failed to make a case. Additionally, I don't believe that Coakley was the right candidate.
Had it been Ted Kennedy running for re-election, he would have been re-elected by a landslide.
So I think the GOP is assuming the win on the wrong basis and this could hurt the GOP more in the midterm elections assuming the WRONG agenda!
I find interesting how some you you liberals are digging up Brown's posing in Cosmo so long ago to disparage him. We all have done silly things in our youth. On the other hand President Obama admitted to using illegal drugs while in his youth! You liberals said not a peep about that and voted for him regardless! So:
Posing nude or semi-nude in Cosmo, silly NOT illegal
Doing "a little blow"...silly AND ILLEGAL!
Your hypocrisy has no bounds, does it?
So the dem excuse for losing is we're all angry and delusional? Dems need to get a grip on reality and stop listening to these far left wackos. We've had enough of big government, not angry.
Brown's election can be a blessing in disguise for the Democratic majority to realize they never really had a filibuster-proof majority, especially with Lieberman, Ben Nelson, etc.
No more watered-down, corporate deals to appease the few. Try to work with the GOP if they are finally willing to negotiate in good faith.
Otherwise, pass better bills for the American people through reconciliation.
Republican'ts? Let's review this shall we! A fillibuster proof majority and yet the DEMS could not and did not pass healthcare! Today Pelosi says she does not have the votes for this whacked out bill! Most Am,ricans said no, yet the Dems failed to listen. Bought off Landrieu and Nelson for their votes! Secret hand shake deal with the union to exempt from certain taxes and NO CSPAN! The Majority party was delivered a wake up call on Tuesday! Republican'ts? Nope! It's more like DEMOCANT"s
Obambi, Brown winning is Bush's fault?
So we in Mass elected a Republican to voice our anger at another Republican?
You are as DUMB as I thought you were, but if possible, even more.
They should give me the Nobel for being factual and truthful.
One and done and it's gonna be fun.
A note to liberals:
Please continue your absolutely rude and vitriolic “straw man” argument posts putting down Republicans. It is very useful in galvanizing the resolve of my party.
Please continue to demand that the liberal wing of the Democratic party should “ram through” liberal legislation despite what the centrist moderates in the Democratic party wish or advise. It will do wonders for unity in the Democratic party.
Please ignore the results of the special election in Massachusetts; and, or, place the blame solely on Martha Coakley for the defeat. You need not glean any further message from this.
And please, please, step it up on the above. November is only ten months away.
no i don't think so, this guy is pulling the wool over peoples eyes, .........Health Care Reform will get passed and it's time for the RepubliCAN'Ts to realize that and jump on the Band Wagon!!!
It's been two days since Brown was elected, why hasn't the messiah fixed the country yet? He's had plenty of time now, I say everything that's wrong is now his fault.
Everyone needs to just calm down. This election is no more momentous than the recent election in New York where a Republican lost a seat they held since the Civil War. The only thing momentous about this election is the Massachusetts voters disrespect for Ted Kennedy.
I don't understand why lately it seems like CNN is more about trying to predict the future and make news than just reporting it.
Anyone want to imagine what the vote difference would have been if the new jobless numbers had come out last week, before the Mass. election?
I agree with the comments 'not alone' and 'victim of dem hypocrisy' and 'hammerer'. Well put!
good words from WV. Thanks for those.
While many MA voters probably voted out of emotion and frustration, and many voted misinformed, some must have voted solely on the health care issue as that's what Brown was campaigning on. What little I've read from people in MA is that the health care bill about to go down in flames in the senate is almost identical to the one in MA, at least on the main points. We need to know the facts about how successful or unsuccessful it's been in MA. Dems, if it's been great then tell us. If not, then fix the bill.
Maybe all of this positioning will get the public option back. What have the dems got to lose at this point? I can dream...
What does it matter? With corporate financing elections will be predetermined. It's over. We had a nice run, though.
Our next president Scott Brown.
@victim of democrat hypocrisy – and for 6 of 8 years bush had nothing to do with the failings of this country, now who is the hypocrite. You can fix 8 Years of Stupid in 1 year.