Obama urges supporters to back Democrat trying to succeed Kennedy in Mass. Senate race

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Obama tapes appeal for Mass. Senate Democrat

BOSTON — President Barack Obama is calling on his fellow Democrats to “put on their walking shoes” and help Martha Coakley succeed Edward Kennedy in the Massachusetts Senate race.

Republican Scott Brown claims momentum heading into Tuesday’s vote. Obama is trying to preserve the pivotal 60th Democratic Senate vote needed to pass his health care overhaul and the rest of his legislative agenda before November’s pivotal midterm elections.

In the two-minute video to Massachusetts supporters, Obama says that his opponents believe “that by defeating Martha, and replacing Ted Kennedy with her Republican opponent, they’ll be in a position to tie up the Senate and prevent a vote.”

Coakley is the Massachusetts attorney general, while Brown is a state senator. A third candidate, Libertarian businessman Joseph L. Kennedy who is no relation to the late senator, is also running.

Kennedy died Aug. 25 of brain cancer.