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Mitt Romney's quest for the White House, years in the making, fell short Tuesday as the former Massachusetts governor lost to President Barack Obama in a tight election that swung on the outcomes of a few key battleground states.
Like Democrats Michael Dukakis and John Kerry before him, Romney rose through Massachusetts politics to come within shouting distance of the presidency in what presumably will be his last political campaign after two tries to become president following his one term as governor.
Despite losing his home state, Romney had tried to capitalize on the sluggish economic recovery over the past four years that has left the country still dealing with high unemployment by highlighting his business background, his turnaround of the Salt Lake City Olympics and his time in the corner office.
Obama, however, was able to overcome both the high expectations that followed his historic election in 2008 and the persistent economic woes by asking for four more years to finish what he started, winning several swing states like Iowa and Ohio that secured an electoral-college victory. He also won Romney's home state of Michigan.
The race was called at around 11:15 p.m. in a decisive outcome for Obama despite what appeared to be a close popular-vote margin that many feared to would lead to a long, drawn-out process with the potential for legal challenges.
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In the U.S. Senate race, Democrat Elizabeth Warren became the first woman from the state to be elected to the Senate, unseating Scott Brown and reclaiming a seat that Democrats lost unexpectedly after the death of Edward Kennedy.
Warren was buoyed by strong turnout across the state with many voters in cities like Boston, Lynn and Lawrence still waiting in line to vote well after the polls closed. Her win held implications for national politics as well since Republicans were intent on holding the seat.
Brown, who catapulted from a relatively unknown state senator from Wrentham to a national political celebrity in 2010, representing a key swing vote in the Democratic-controlled Senate, could not overcome the wave of voters and field organization of the Democratic Party in a presidential election year, despite enjoying solid popularity. However, Brown won Worcester County handily.
As their contest wore on, Warren increasingly tried to nationalize the race and capitalize on turnout for President Obama and the Democratic tendencies of the Massachusetts electorate. Voter turnout all across Massachusetts on Tuesday appeared heavy, a day after Secretary of State William Galvin predicted a record turnout.
"One of the best get-out-the-vote efforts in Worcester County that I've ever seen," Lt. Gov. Timothy Murray said while waiting for results at Warren's election night party at the Fairmont Copley in Boston.
Massachusetts voters have approved a law to give patients with certain ailments the option to use medical marijuana to treat themselves while narrowly rejecting an effort to allow physicians to prescribe life-ending medications to terminally ill patients.
Marijuana activists cheered passage of Question 3, along with two ballot questions in Colorado and Washington that legalize the recreational use of marijuana.
"It's a great day for us," said Tom Angell, communications director for Law Enforcement Against Prohibition. Angell said the group aims to make marijuana legal for adults, and said the overwhelming success of ballot measures that have relaxed marijuana laws could help state legislatures "get the picture" about legislation to further relax laws concerning marijuana.
Question 3 was favored by 63 percent of voters who cast votes, and opposed by 37 percent, according to preliminary election results.
Opponents of both ballot questions argued the proposals featured flaws that could allow for abuses.
The Death with Dignity Campaign conceded early this morning as preliminary results indicated opponents turned in 51 percent of the vote, or about 38,000 more votes than supporters, with 93 percent of precincts reporting.
"For the past year, the people of Massachusetts participated in an open and honest conversation about allowing terminally-ill patients the choice to end their suffering," the campaign said in a statement released at 6:30 a.m. "The Death with Dignity Act offered the terminally-ill the right to make that decision for themselves, but regrettably, we fell short. Our grassroots campaign was fueled by thousands of people from across this state, but outspent five to one by groups opposed to individual choice."
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Worcester Business Journal provides the top coverage of news, trends, data, politics and personalities of the Central Mass business community. Get the news and information you need from the award-winning writers at WBJ. Don’t miss out - subscribe today.
Worcester Business Journal presents a special commemorative edition celebrating the 300th anniversary of the city of Worcester. This landmark publication covers the city and region’s rich history of growth and innovation.
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