Senator Scott Brown would most likely be back in the Senate if a special election were held today, according to a new poll.
The telephone poll of 500 registered voters, taken by the Mass Inc. Polling Group for WBUR, showed Brown, a Republican, leading a generic Democrat 47 percent to 39 percent, with a margin of error of plus or minus 4.4 percent. The remaining 15 percent of respondents did not express a preference.
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That's what the polls say now. What will happen once a democratic candidate is selected.
Moreover, Brown is not a republican. He's a self proclaimed independent.
Will the real republicans support someone who doesn't support them?
Interesting. If I were a Democrat I'd worry that it might mean the party has few up and coming people for the next generation of politicians. If I were a Republican I'd have a similar worry, albeit to a lesser extent. Sen. Brown already has experience, regardless of how one feels about his politics. But what about Tisei, or Hedlund, or Bielat, or Baker? Is it still Brown's 'turn' or are other potential candidates just not interested? I realize that large pools of candidates in the primaries can lead to bitter divisions, but it does help introduce a range of prospective legislators.
Charlie Baker would be an excellent senator. He's very smart, well-informed on issues, thoughtful, and very warm in person, although not that great on the stump. I'm a Democrat and would defintely consider voting for him, whereas Brown has no chance of ever getting my vote.
My facetious answer would be that, like W. C. Fields, I never vote for, I only vote against. I brought up Baker because he is rather conspicuous by his absence after having run what I thought was a strong gubernatorial campaign in 2010. I am neutral on Brown. I don't see him as being as bad as his most vocal detractors would claim, but he did make some disappointing votes in office and performances in debates with Warren. The problem is in no way unique to Massachusetts, but there does seem to be a dearth of new candidates.
A "generic Democrat?" What the heck is that? This is a ridiculous poll with no value whatsoever. If Brown runs, each Democrat who gets in the race will bring his/her own agenda, experience, fundraising capability, debate skills, etc. to the table. So to ask people at this point, before a campaign has even begun, whether they'd vote for the man whose face was all over our TV screens until just a little over a month ago vs. a faceless cypher is pointless.
That was kind of an odd way to phrase it especially when the author cited others by name and the percentage difference of those Dems noted wasn't close the percentage of a "generic" democrat. FYI, if you Google "generic democrat + images", there are some funny ones.
Then for heaven's sake let's not hold the election today!
Sigh. Already with the polls? Seriously, we just finished an election and I will be happy if I never again hear the words, "I'm Scott Brown and I approve this message." Honestly, assuming we have another election in the coming months, we will have had three huge senate elections in three years. And we'd have having a fourth in 2014. Make it stop!