On January 19, just a couple of days from now, the voters of Massachusetts will be heading to the polls to choose a man or woman to fill the Senate seat that had belonged to long time Senator Ted Kennedy. There are 3 candidate running for that seat; Democrat Martha Coakley, currently the Attorney General of Massachusetts, Republican Scott Brown, currently State Senator of Massachusetts, and Independent Joe Kennedy, who is not related in any way to THE Kennedy family.
Attorney General Martha Coakley won the primary and was leading by double digits in the polls until very recently. Around approximately Christmas something totally unexpected happened. Suddenly it was realized that State Senator Brown, the Republican underdog, was rising in the polls.
Then, a few days after Christmas, the very first campaign ad for Scott Brown hit the local networks and put everyone into a frenzy. Everyone was talking about Scott Brown; his name was finally out there! Republicans, Independents (called un-enrolled in MA) and even Democrats were buzzing with comments about Scott Brown and his ad. In my opinion, this ad was total genius. What was it about that ad? It starts out … well, look here and you’ll see.
Scott Brown started the ads; Martha Coakley rushed to get some out there as well. Meanwhile, the numbers of Senator Brown’s supporters was growing at a fever pitch. Donations, which hadn’t really gone as far as they could have, began to pour in, and the race was on. At the same time, Scott Brown’s poll numbers were also rising, and rising fast. This “upstart” from the south shore was on his way.
Last week there was a debate for the 3 candidates. A few things happened at that debate, with 2 of those things being major stand outs. The first thing was when the “upstart Senator” became a national hero to those of us who are angry about the way things have been of late in Washington. Listen in Scott Brown is completely correct when he said “With all due respect, it’s NOT the Kennedy’s seat, it’s NOT the Democrats seat, it’s the PEOPLE’s seat.” How right he is.
At one point two weeks ago, when they walked into Scott Brown’s campaign offices, people would leave without the signs, bumper stickers, etc., that they had come for because the campaign had run out. What did many of these people do rather than wait for the new batch to arrive in a few days? They went out and created their own signs, banners, flags, bumper stickers, etc. because they wanted to show their support. There are home made signs ALL OVER MA. Talk to a political consultant. They will tell you that that NEVER happens. Scott Brown has so many people wanting to volunteer to help his campaign that there is no need for paid personnel. That also never happens.
The numbers of people at the rallies that took place at the locations where Scott Brown was speaking have been growing exponentially. Scott Brown has been racking up hundreds of miles a day going around the state meeting with the people, talking, shaking hands, etc.
What did Martha Coakley do? She spent time last week in Washington at a fund raiser for lobbyists. She has had some speaking engagements here in MA for her campaign, all were fundraisers. During an interview, when asked about going out and spending time shaking hands and meeting with the voters like Scott Brown was doing, her comment was “Coakley bristles at the suggestion that, with so little time left, in an election with such high stakes, she is being too passive.
“As opposed to standing outside Fenway Park? In the cold? Shaking hands?’’ she fires back, in an apparent reference to a Brown online video of him doing just that. “This is a special election. And I know that I have the support of Kim Driscoll. And I now know the members of the [Salem] School Committee, who know far more people than I could ever meet.’’ Here’s the article about it. THEN she made the one mistake you don’t make in MA, especially Boston… She stated that Curt Shilling of Red Sox fame, was a Yankees fan. In BOSTON?? Sorry, but the Red Sox and Fenway are protected here like a bear would protect her cubs. Here is Curt’s reply
Two days ago President Bill Clinton came to town to join Martha Coakley and John Kerry for a fundraiser for the Coakley campaign. Here is a video of the scene outside, from someone that was there
Martha Coakley’s entire campaign has been run horribly. Her expectations that just because she’s a democrat she’ll get the Senate seat is obvious. She’s been going from one gaff to another, and seems to have no concern about it. Every single ad put out onto TV and the radio from her campaign has been an attack ad, aimed directly at attempting to destroy Scott Brown. Those ads are all misleading, if not downright lies. Many are asking “Where is Coakley?”. When we see or hear an ad by Scott Brown or one of those supporting him, we hear about Scott Brown. When we see or hear an ad from the Coakley campaign or her supporters, we hear about Scott Brown. She just hasn’t figured it out yet. WE ARE SICK OF THINGS AS THEY ARE!!
What exactly is the draw for Scott Brown? Is it the charisma? Is it the smile? What exactly is it that is making so many, from all groups, become so excited about Senator Brown? For me, the draw is that he speaks my language, the language of the typical person in MA. Senator Brown comes off as a real person, someone who will stand up and do what’s right, no matter the odds. He’s proving that with this campaign. Against all odds, he’s this close to doing what absolutely no Republican has ever done in the state of MA. He just may pull off that miracle.
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