Candidates who become complacent, develop a sense of entitlement and take voters for granted tend to get taught harsh lessons on Election Day.

Just ask Martha Coakley.

In the wake of Democrat Coakley losing to Republican Scott Brown in Massachusetts' special election for Ted Kenendy's former seat in the U.S. Senate, the GOP/Fox News/Rush Limbaugh mantra undoubtedly will be that voters in the Bay State wanted to send a message of discontent to the Democratic machine that controls Washington.

Don't believe it for a second.

As recently as three weeks ago, Coakley had a 15-point lead over Brown in most major polls. Yet Brown won by about 5 points. That's a 20-point swing during a period in which there were no significant developments in the nation or the state of Massachusetts that would justify such a reversal.

Quite simply, Brown was able to pull the upset because he worked harder - much harder - to win the election than his opponent did. He campaigned tirelessly and relentlessly during the final weeks of the campaign while Coakley put in almost no effort at all, figuring a Democrat couldn't possibly lose in Massachusetts, especially when running for a seat long held by Kennedy, a Democratic icon in the state for nearly half a century.

Oh, how wrong she was!

So now, like Alaska Republican Ted Stevens before her, Coakley has sapped her party of its power in the Senate because of her own ineptitude. And, in the process, she probably has derailed President Obama's health care reform plan and many other initiatives he planned to put before Congress.

And for that, she should be ashamed of herself.