Brown to skip State of the Union speech

BOSTON, MASS (AP) - Scott Brown is showing up many places, just not the State of the Union speech.

The Republican senator-elect says he doesn't plan to attend President Barack Obama's first speech on Wednesday because "I don't even have a business card yet."

Brown says he wants to wrap up his work as a Massachusetts state senator and thank people who helped elect him last week to the Senate seat held by the late Edward Kennedy.

He's also meeting with local leaders, Gov. Deval Patrick, Boston reporters, ABC-TV's Barbara Walters and doing a bit for Jay Leno's NBC comedy show.

Brown says he'll answer questions about the speech, but he thinks "it's inappropriate" for him to be commentating on the president's remarks.

He is targeting Feb. 11 for a swearing-in date.