In a major electoral upset, the US Republicans wrested the Massachusetts Senate seat held by late senator Ted Kennedy for 47 years from the Democrats. It dealt a huge blow to the prospects of President Barack Obama's ambitious health care bill. <br/><br/>The victory of Republican Scott Brown came as a major setback to Democrats who lost their filibuster majority of 60 in the 100 seat Senate which was essential for the health care reform bill to clear the Congress. It will also make it more difficult to pass legislations on climate change and other White House priorities. <br/><br/>With nearly all votes counted, Brown had 52 per cent to Democrat Martha Coakley's 47 per cent. The shock defeat for the Democrats comes at a time when a number of gubernatorial posts and more Senate seats will be up for reckoning by November this year. Brown's surprise victory in a Democrat stronghold is also seen as a stern rebuke for Obama who today completes a year in office. <br/><br/>The Republicans immediately termed the verdict a defeat of Obama's policies, saying it is a referendum on bad policies, not a bad candidate.