Sen.-elect Brown says he's ready to take seat 'without delay'

Senator-elect Scott Brown (R-Mass.) said he's ready to take his seat "without delay."

Brown said in remarks after winning Tuesday's special election in Massachusetts that the "independent voice" of the state had spoken to elevate him to victory over state Attorney General Martha Coakley (D).

"Tonight the independent majority has delivered a great victory," Brown said in his victory speech. "The people, as you know by their votes, have filled the seat themselves, and I'm ready to go to Washington without delay."

Brown said he'd spoken to President Barack Obama, Sen. Paul Kirk (D-Mass.), and Vicki Kennedy, the widow of the late Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.).

"The first call I made was to his wife Vicki, and I told her his name would always command the respect and affection of Massachusetts," Brown said, noting that he'd called the senator's widow first. "There's no replacing a man like that, but tonight I honor the memory, and I pledge to be the very best, and try to be a worthy successor to the late Sen. Kennedy."

Brown paid tribute to Republican figures as well, including former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and Sen. John McCain (Ariz.), for having encouraged him to run for office.

But the senator-elect made a late mention of healthcare and other legislative battles that await him in Washington.

The timeline for Brown's seating will play intricately into Democrats' legislative strategy in the weeks and months to come. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has pledged to seat Brown "as soon as the proper paperwork has been received," while centrist Democratic Sen. Jim Webb (Va.) has urged the Senate to halt votes until Brown is sworn in.

The Massachusetts state senator said he'll work with the outgoing Kirk to transition into office, calls which were met with chants of "Seat him now!" from the Republican crowd.

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