In the senate race of Coakley (D) vs. Brown (R) today - to be held in Massachusetts - a party desperate for something to pin its hope of survival on - will watch closely to see who the voters will select to replace Ted Kennedy.

Healthcare reform will be reported as being held in the balance. However, the race is not relevant.  Why?

Because so much was gained in the last session of congress - towards real reform - and the staggering amounts of money that were spent by the Insurance lobbyists - wasn't able to stop it.

In fact, a healthcare reform package passed the House of Representatives - with clear element of a National Health Service. The public had their say in government.

In the senate, a deeply flawed bill arose from the machinations of a deeply flawed institution. Like the GOP during the Bush era, 'pay for play' ruled the senate. What arose from its chambers stated that every man woman and child in America must pay a private health insurance company for coverage, but there would be no viable National Health Service to insure competition and provide a reasonable alternative to the kind of HMO-class , 600 percent higher in cost, 37th ranked in the world healthcare we seem to be so 'happy' with here in the states. And that bill was to be reconciled.

It still can be reconciled, and the legislation that arose from both chambers can be formed into a bill that can be signed.  In all likelihood, it will. If only the House can stand strong on the National Health Service element - the center of the bill - and the senate can capitulate that , constitutionally - they cannot require Americans to buy a product from a private company without providing that alternative - the selfsame one that was given as a gift to the returning veterans of World War II, in Britain - and currently - to every member of the Senate - National Healthcare.

Brown is riding high on a typical Republican strategy - earned media, plus special purpose entity boosters and the typical populist messagery that has been the earmark of every successful republican campaign. Coakley, on the other hand, attempted a negative campaign. This was all awash in television advertising that had either the wrong effect, or no effect at all.

Meanwhile, the blogosphere voted on the Senate version of Healthcare reform - and found the 60 vote majority the Senate maintains to be lacking in substance and meaning.  Capitulation on the part of Senators whose lobbyist money putatively heads towards such ineffective, expensive media to run their campaign - and in whom we find a growing disconnect between what the people want (72% of us want healthcare reform) and what the lobbyists seem to need to keep the status quo.

But what will happen is the status quo will be shattered. The house bill will stand. And a new version of the Senate bill will be put into place.

And the reconciliation of those bills will maintain and support a National Health Service. So much was spent to such little effect that even the lobbyists will aquiesce they have failed.

And the plaintive cries of the GOP , who will point to their new 41 seat 'domination'  - when - and not if - the Dems figure out that the progressive, independent movement that swept Obama into power - wants real healthcare reform - will go after every senate seat available and they will win.

Brown is riding a wave of support that comes directly from the dissatisfaction people have experienced in the visible disconnect between their needs as a constituency, and the lobbyism that has become entrenched in the GOP and in Washington DC .

They want a National Health Service. If the Dems lose today, there is a strong probability they will learn their lesson - keep the elements of the house bill that work - and launch a new senate campaign later in the year to speak to the active 2010 voters of the progressive, independent and new democratic base . And they will pick up Senate Seats all across American in 2010. As well as House seats. The landslide elections of 2008 will pale in comparison.

And if the Democrats win, in Massachusetts - a state that voted for John McCain over George Bush in the 2000 primary -  then the message of the close election of Sen. Coakley  will be heard loud and clear in the Senate. Get Real. or Go Home.