PrintFrom a Democratic operative in the state, via e-mail:
Yesterday may have helped. She needs huge voter turnout in Boston but didn't ask the mayor for help until very late. His wife, the very popular-Angela Menino, did a robocall for Coakley this weekend.
She got Jim McGovern, who's got a very strong Worcester organization, involved very late as well. He turned out thousands of votes for Hillary in 2008 primary.
Coakley's advocates keep pushing the Bush-Cheney message. (Scott Brown = Dick Cheney.)
I worry about this. In political terms, Bush feels like ancient history. He's off the stage. People are focused on other things. It's not that Bush wasn't awful. It's that this is far enough away from the Bush era that this doesn't resonate with the issues of now.
I drove down to my mother's on Saturday and saw all kinds of Brown signs on the way--and even an unprecedented Republican standout--but only 1 Coakley sign.
The Coakley people are saying that internals say "dead heat" but I'm taking that to mean a statistical dead heat.
I say she wins close. It may be wishful thinking.
COMMENTS (11)
Well, there's an old saying: If law signs were votes, we'd have President Remax.
Well, there's an old saying: If law signs were votes, we'd have President Remax.
Good point Crock, lawn signs are a cheap form psy-ops.
Good point Crock, lawn signs are a cheap form psy-ops.
I attribute Brown's surge to the Brady effect. Brady, as in Tom Brady. Patriots knocked out in the first round, coupled with Brady's lackluster performance, angered many voters. If the election were last week, Brown was a shoe in. Not so now that the voters have had time to get over the shock of the loss; there's always next year.
I attribute Brown's surge to the Brady effect. Brady, as in Tom Brady. Patriots knocked out in the first round, coupled with Brady's lackluster performance, angered many voters. If the election were last week, Brown was a shoe in. Not so now that the voters have had time to get over the shock of the loss; there's always next year.
I like Raylward's explanation. But, then, I'm a Dolphins fan. (My New England loyalties work for baseball only.)
I like Raylward's explanation. But, then, I'm a Dolphins fan. (My New England loyalties work for baseball only.)
WandreyCer: Run right out and buy that Beefeater. Vodka won't do it. Did you read that Coakley got "polite applause" for her remarks at the MLK breakfast. Brown, who, of course, was not invited to speak, apparently got a decent reception from his seat in the back of the hall. If she can't stir them up at the MLK function, you and Crock1701 might want to re-think your assessment of the lawn signs. Can it be that not even Acorn and the SEIU can put Humpty Dumpty together again?
WandreyCer: Run right out and buy that Beefeater. Vodka won't do it. Did you read that Coakley got "polite applause" for her remarks at the MLK breakfast. Brown, who, of course, was not invited to speak, apparently got a decent reception from his seat in the back of the hall. If she can't stir them up at the MLK function, you and Crock1701 might want to re-think your assessment of the lawn signs. Can it be that not even Acorn and the SEIU can put Humpty Dumpty together again?
I read this on Mike Lupica's column: Not long after Brown had been seen making an appearance outside Fenway Park, somebody asked Coakley if she had run too passive of a campaign. "As opposed to standing outside Fenway Park?" Coakley told the Boston Globe. "In the cold? Shaking hands?"
If the health care bill had already passed, there is no way I would vote for her. God forbid she subject herself to the elements and have to shake the hands of the voters.
I read this on Mike Lupica's column: Not long after Brown had been seen making an appearance outside Fenway Park, somebody asked Coakley if she had run too passive of a campaign. "As opposed to standing outside Fenway Park?" Coakley told the Boston Globe. "In the cold? Shaking hands?"
If the health care bill had already passed, there is no way I would vote for her. God forbid she subject herself to the elements and have to shake the hands of the voters.
If this is true, one wonders just wtf she doesn't know anything about winning an election in Massachusetts, or indeed anywhere. It seems to be her problem.
If this is true, one wonders just wtf she doesn't know anything about winning an election in Massachusetts, or indeed anywhere. It seems to be her problem.
I bought my vodka yesterday, dear Isernoff. Champagne too in case God suddenly loves Democrats, but that's never happened before so I'll probably just store it.
Not that conservatives are known for their manners, but giddy gloating is bad form. I'd say go easy on that stuff. This is as cruel as it comes for your friends across the aisle over here, I warn you.
I know about the poor man's psy-ops because we had some fun lawn-sign wars in Pennsylvania back in the Hillary/Obama days - we blanketed neighborhoods and stole tons of them as well (yes I know, we political junkies need to get out more).
(I agree Blackton, she's a first class dip. But this one is headquarters fault, not hers. The hea ... view full comment
I bought my vodka yesterday, dear Isernoff. Champagne too in case God suddenly loves Democrats, but that's never happened before so I'll probably just store it.
Not that conservatives are known for their manners, but giddy gloating is bad form. I'd say go easy on that stuff. This is as cruel as it comes for your friends across the aisle over here, I warn you.
I know about the poor man's psy-ops because we had some fun lawn-sign wars in Pennsylvania back in the Hillary/Obama days - we blanketed neighborhoods and stole tons of them as well (yes I know, we political junkies need to get out more).
(I agree Blackton, she's a first class dip. But this one is headquarters fault, not hers. The head Democrats in MA, DC are 100% to blame).
What's the betting this is going to be so tight that the lawyers will be fighting over the last hundred ballots a month down the line?
What's the betting this is going to be so tight that the lawyers will be fighting over the last hundred ballots a month down the line?
WandreyCer, amie, et al: Not gloating at all; mes apologies if that was the appearance of my response.
What is happening? I think the peepul dumped one party government from the Rs and are now dumping one party government from the Ds. They want checks, balances, compromise........................and incremental progress. And, it looks like they are determined to get it. The right should pay attention as well as the left. Rove couldn't produce a stable governing majority and Obama et al can't do it either. Bad news? Not for the bulk of the last several centuries.
How does this affect health care? Barney Frank is right; the current, secretive botch working its way through this congress ... view full comment
WandreyCer, amie, et al: Not gloating at all; mes apologies if that was the appearance of my response.
What is happening? I think the peepul dumped one party government from the Rs and are now dumping one party government from the Ds. They want checks, balances, compromise........................and incremental progress. And, it looks like they are determined to get it. The right should pay attention as well as the left. Rove couldn't produce a stable governing majority and Obama et al can't do it either. Bad news? Not for the bulk of the last several centuries.
How does this affect health care? Barney Frank is right; the current, secretive botch working its way through this congress is as dead as Kelso's nuts if Brown wins. Does that mean no progress is possible for another generation? I don't think so. A majority could be formed around the concept that insurance should be preservable if people change jobs and if they have a prior condition. How to form such a majority? 1) There must be agreement on a mandate; 2) there must be agreement on cost reduction (like the various European systems). Will it be easy; of course not. The "middle" must re-capture control of American politics. Could happen: the middle likes divided government.
lsernoff: A majority has been formed. A majority in the house, and at the moment a majority of 60-40 in the United States Senate. Should Brown win, there will be a majority of 59-41 in favor of it. Only in crazyland does a 6-4 advantage not constitute a majority for legislation. Unfortunately, crazyland seems to be the Senate these days.
lsernoff: A majority has been formed. A majority in the house, and at the moment a majority of 60-40 in the United States Senate. Should Brown win, there will be a majority of 59-41 in favor of it. Only in crazyland does a 6-4 advantage not constitute a majority for legislation. Unfortunately, crazyland seems to be the Senate these days.