White House issues brief congratulations for Brown

The White House issued a brief statement congratulating Republican Scott Brown after he was declared the winner of the Massachusetts special Senate election. 

White House press secretary Robert Gibbs acknowledged that President Barack Obama called Brown to congratulate him on his victory.

“This evening the president spoke to both candidates in the hard-fought Massachusetts Senate race," Gibbs wrote. "The president congratulated Senator Brown on his victory and a well-run campaign. The president told Senator Brown that he looks forward to working with him on the urgent economic challenges facing Massachusetts families and struggling families across our nation."

Brown, of course, gives Senate Republicans their 41st vote to filibuster healthcare reform legislation backed by Obama. Gibbs did not mention the healthcare bill in his statement. 

Obama campaiged for Coakley at a event in Boston on Sunday. Gibbs also said Thursday that Obama was "not pleased" with the closeness of the race leading up to the polls closig.

As for Brown's opponent Martha Coakley, Gibbs noted that the president "thanked [her] for her hard work and urged her to continue her advocacy on behalf of working people.”