WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Scott Brown, the Massachusetts Republican who won late Senator Edward Kennedy's Senate seat, could be sworn into office on Thursday if he is formally certified the winner, Senate aides said.
Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick is expected to certify Brown's upset victory over Democrat Martha Coakley on Thursday, clearing the way for him to enter the Senate, aides said.
Brown will become the 41st Republican in the 100-member chamber, eliminating the Democrats' 60-seat supermajority that is needed to overcome procedural hurdles on important bills such as healthcare reform.
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With memories of last year's bitter town hall meetings still fresh, Democrats vowed on Wednesday to go on the offense during the August congressional recess.
Harry Reid will unveil as early as Monday a slimmed-down energy bill seeking to make offshore drilling safer and convert trucks to run on domestic natural gas.
