Democrat Coakey confident in Senate GOTV effort

[February 04, 2010]  BOSTON (AP) -- Democrat Martha Coakley says her campaign's get-out-the-vote efforts will win her an unexpectedly tight Massachusetts Senate special election.

She said Monday that "we have a race, but we're really confident that we're going to make this happen."

Her upstart Republican rival, Scott Brown, was also attending the event but wasn't on the speaking program.

Both candidates are vying to succeed the late Sen. Edward Kennedy. At stake is a pivotal Senate vote Democrats hope to use to pass President Barack Obama's health care overhaul. The GOP hopes to pick up a 41st vote to the block the president's agenda this midterm election year.

Independent candidate Joseph L. Kennedy is also on Tuesday's ballot, but he has done little public campaigning.

[Associated Press; By GLEN JOHNSON]

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