Last Updated on Sunday, 17 January 2010 06:45
Written by Will Huff
Sunday, January 17th, 2010
In Massachusetts there will be a special election on Tuesday for the Senate seat long held by the late Ted Kennedy. In Massachusetts there has not been a Republican Senator since 1973, which may change on Tuesday.
In a state that has long voted democrat, the possibility that Republican Scott Brown has a chance at winning this election is remarkable. As recently as three weeks ago, Martha Coakley was holding a large lead; some say a double digit lead in the polls. But Martha Coakley had taken a hands-off, a kind of don’t F this up approach, to the special election. While she sat back, Brown was working. His team has been working the phones, making stops, shaking hands and kissing babies. It’s even been eluded to, by Curt Schilling of Red Sox glory, that Coakley has been sitting on her high horse and expecting the seat to be given to her.
There are also multiple other things working in Brown’s favor. One is a growing dissent toward the Health Care bill which is hastily being rammed through congress. According to a recent Rasmussen poll, 55% of people disapprove of the bill while only 40% approve. Plus a majority of people feel like it will lead to higher taxes and more trouble to states that are already operating on a low budget, but who will be forced to pick up the cost of Medicaid for their inhabitants. These issues are working in favor of Republican candidates at the moment. Other bits of help for Brown are coming from Coakley herself. She has called the aforementioned Schilling a “Yankees fan” and is supporting new taxes which are being proposed by President Obama.
The Democrats are not throwing in the towel though. President Obama and Clinton are campaigning for Coakley along with other high powered Democrats. They have begun to attack Brown’s character for his connection to the “Radical Tea Party” movement. He was even called a “Tea Bagger” by one Democrat Senator. They also are pointing out that Brown will derail the Health Care overhaul if elected, leaving “millions of people without health insurance.”
Whatever the outcome, Democrats are going to reevaluate policy and campaign strategy. This has been a clear wakeup call that all is not well in the Obama-Nation, and this election may be a dagger to all of the plans which the Democrats have while holding the 60-40 vote majority. Tuesday will be a pivotal day for the Obama agenda.
