(MYSTIC) - Rob Simmons, candidate for US Senate, made the following statement today in reaction to Scott Brown's victory in Massachusetts:

"I congratulate Scott Brown on his tremendous, come from behind victory. Despite being written off by the political pundits months ago, Scott tirelessly brought his message of lower taxes, less government spending and vigilance against terrorism to the people, and they responded by awarding him one of the biggest upsets in political history.

"Let tonight serve as a message from the voters to Democrats across the nation, and particularly in the Northeast. Voters of all political stripes have rejected their party's agenda of reckless spending and mounting federal debt, unseemly sweetheart deals for special interests, and weakness in the face of the terrorist threat, all of which has done little to put our nation back to work or keep us safe.

"Scott's message, backed up by his experience on national security and other serious public policy issues, as well as his track record of winning elections in a tough district, made him the perfect candidate to beat a popular Democratic attorney general in a deep blue state. I am proud to see the success of a fellow Army officer who shares my belief that 'public service is a public trust.'

"Now, Democrats should seat Brown immediately just as they would have done if Massachusetts voters had chosen a Democrat. To delay Brown's installation would be a stick in the eye of the voters who, by electing Brown, have expressly rejected the Democrats' cynical and defiant power plays."