Warren wins in Massachusetts, dampens Kerry's secretary of State chances

Elizabeth Warren's projected victory over incumbent Sen. Scott Brown (R-Mass.) puts a damper on Sen. John Kerry's chances of taking the secretary of State job in a second Obama administration.

Warren was ahead of Brown 52 percent to 48 percent with 38 percent of precincts reporting, the third seat projected to switch from Republican to Democratic hands Tuesday night. Her victory leaves Brown, a popular moderate Republican, in a strong position to win a special election next year that would result if Kerry were to leave the Senate.

Kerry is rumored to want to succeed current Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who has said she would only serve one term. But he has denied it, saying he's happy in his role as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Other potential candidates for the post if Obama wins reelection include U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice and National Security Adviser Thomas Donilon. Obama could still decide to give Kerry the post if Democrats win several Senate seats Tuesday night and add to their pre-election 53-47 advantage.