US President Barack Obama will stick to his agenda including healthcare reforms despite defeat in a Massachusetts Senate election, the White House says.

Senior presidential adviser David Axelrod said there would be a rethink on tactics but the substance of policy would not change.

Earlier Republican Scott Brown, who won the seat, said he had tapped into mounting aggravation among voters.

Mr Brown will be Massachusetts' first Republican senator since 1972.

Mr Axelrod said the administration would take the defeat into account, but would continue to pursue its agenda.

"The campaign is over now, and we have to focus on solving problems"
Scott Brown
Massachusetts senator-elect
"We'll have to think through this next year from the standpoint of tactics but in substance the mission can't change," he said.
Tactics, Tactics indeed. Can't say it's not in plane view, pun intended

BBC News - Obama to stick to agenda despite Massachusetts defeat