REPUBLICANS are rejoicing and Democrats reeling in the wake of Scott Brown’s stunning victory over Martha Coakley in a special Massachusetts Senate election that Brown insists was not simply a referendum on President Barack Obama.

Barack Obama’s health care reforms were in danger today after Republican Scott Brown captured the US Senate seat held by liberal champion Ted Kennedy for nearly 50 years, in a massive blow to the president.

US secretary of state Condoleezza Rice urged the Democratic-controlled US Congress not to interfere in the conduct of the Iraq war and suggested President George Bush would defy troop withdrawal legislation.