And Now The Race Begins

And it all comes down to Martha Coakley and Scott Brown…

Attorney General Martha Coakley took a step toward history last night, crushing U.S. Rep. Michael Capuano in a landslide victory in the Democratic primary to succeed the iconic late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy.

Coakley was the first to jump into the three-month sprint to replace Kennedy in the days after his death, and the bold strategy paid off in the form of a 19-point victory over Capuano. Coakley, vying to be the first female senator from Massachusetts, hauled in 47 percent of the vote to Capuano’s 28 percent. City Year founder Alan Khazei netted 13 percent while Boston Celtics co-owner Stephen Pagliuca got 12.

Coakley’s win sets up a Jan. 19 clash with state Sen. Scott Brown, who trounced Duxbury attorney Jack E. Robinson in the GOP primary, 89 percent to 11 percent.

Her victory also touches off a scramble for her attorney general’s seat, with several lawmakers already expressing interest.

Speaking at the Sheraton Boston, Coakley thanked unions, law enforcement officials, health care workers and Emily’s List, a key Washington, D.C.-based women’s political group that backed her.

“Sometimes the best man for the job is a woman, and I think that’s what the voters said (yesterday),” Coakley told reporters after her victory speech.

Yup, we get it. You are a woman. Let’s move on.

Coakley recalled the late senator in her victory speech, saying he was the first to congratulate her when she won the Middlesex district attorney’s seat. Kennedy’s widow, Victoria, called and congratulated her last night, she said.

“I told her that I and every Democrat in Massachusetts was thinking of her and her family,” Coakley said.

The Kennedy clan, which balked at endorsing a candidate in the primary, threw its support behind Coakley, saying in a statement, “We believe that Martha Coakley will represent the people of Massachusetts with honor and deep commitment.”

How nice an non-specific.

The longshot Brown, meanwhile, pledged to wage a fierce battle and focus his campaign on attracting independent voters.

“We’re halfway there. And now the race begins,” Brown bellowed to cheering supporters at the Newton Marriott. “Never underestimate the independent spirit of Massachusetts.”

We can only hope that there is hope for Scott Brown. Calling him a “longshot” may be putting it mildly, but the air is ripe for change, and perhaps Scott Brown will beat the odds and give Coakley the political fight of her life. This is as good a political climate we’ve seen in a while for a Republican to take that Senate seat; let’s hope, for the sake of the citizens of the Commonwealth, that the tyranny of one-party rule and representation in this state will come to an end.

Here’s to a spirited campaign. Vote for Scott Brown.

What The Polls Are Saying

Deval Patrick is tanking. Anyone surprised?

A majority of Bay State voters say Gov. Deval Patrick has mishandled the state’s economy, according to a poll released this morning.

The Suffolk University/7 News survey of 600 registered voters found that while 37 percent approve of the governor’s management of the local economy, 55 percent disapprove. Of that number, 29 percent strongly disapprove.

“It’s one of many data points that show the majority of voters are unhappy with the governor,” said David Paleologos, director of Suffolk’s Political Research Center, who conducted the poll from Nov. 4-8. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percent.

Oddly enough, Patrick leads the three-way contest against Tim Cahill and Christy Mihos, according to the Suffolk University/7 News survey.

Gov. Patrick’s negative marks have inched up to 47 percent since September, when they stood at 45 percent. Nevertheless, he remains predominant (36 percent) in a contest with state Treasurer Tim Cahill (26 percent), running as an Independent, and Republican businessman Christy Mihos (20 percent).

And still interesting to note that Christy Mihos still leads the way in the race for the Republican Primary.

Republican primary voters give Mihos the edge (33 percent) over Harvard Pilgrim Health Care CEO Charlie Baker (30 percent) in a GOP primary. Baker led Mihos among registered Republicans (33 percent to 28 percent) but Mihos, a former Independent candidate for Governor in 2006, outpolled Baker among Republican-leaning Independents (39 percent to 25 percent).

A general election scenario with Baker in the mix ticks Patrick up to 38 percent; Cahill remains at 26 percent; and Baker gets just 15 percent.

Doesn’t look like Charlie Baker is making much progress if he wants to get the Republican nod.

And what about the Senate special election?

On the race to replace Sen. Edward M. Kennedy’s seat, 56 percent of voters are undecided over which candidate offers the best economic policies.

Attorney General Martha Coakley, a Democrat, topped the six-person race with 13 percent, followed by 11 percent for Republican state Sen. Scott Brown, 10 percent for Celtics [team stats] co-owner and Democrat Stephen Pagliuca and 9 percent for Congressman Michael Capuano (D-Somerville). Democrat and City Year co-founder Alan Khazei and Republican Jack E. Robinson were at zero percent.

More data on the poll from Suffolk University…

On the Democratic side of the Senate race, 44 percent chose Coakley, followed by 17 percent for Celtics co-owner Steve Pagliuca, 16 percent for U.S. Rep. Michael Capuano, and 3 percent for City Year founder Alan Khazei. Twenty percent were undecided.

“Steve Pagliuca scored the biggest improvement since September,” said David Paleologos, director of the Suffolk University Political Research Center. “He traveled from zero to second place by flooding the air waves with TV ads. However, he still has not secured the most aware Democratic voters who are choosing Coakley and Capuano before him.”

On the Republican side, state Sen. Scott Brown (45 percent) led Jack E. Robinson (7 percent) with 47 percent undecided.

In General Election head-to-head matchups between the Democratic contenders and the GOP’s Brown, only Khazei fell short, with 33 percent of voters choosing Brown and 30 percent Khazei.

Still of lot of indecisiveness going on here. There’s still some time left before going to vote, and a lot can change.

Out-of-District Money Flooding Congressional Campaign Coffers

Congressmen from Massachusetts are getting most of their campaign money from outside their districts, and in some cases, outside Massachusetts, according to MAPLight.org.

The Bay State’s congressional delegation hauled in nearly $11 million in campaign cash between 2005 and 2007, 81 percent of which came from donors living outside their districts, a new study reveals.

Rep. Barney Frank (D-Newton) took in the most campaign cash of the Massachusetts delegation – $2.4 million – 91 percent of which came from outside his district and 73 percent of which came from out-of-state, according to campaign watchdog MAPLight.org.

Frank spokesman Peter Kovar said Frank’s chairmanship of the House financial services committee and involvement in gay rights and other “high-profile” national issues explains the high percentage of out-of-district donations.

Rep. Ed Markey (D-Malden) topped the Bay State list with 93 percent of his $1.1 million coming from out of his district. Markey ranked 45th of 421 House lawmakers in the study.

Nationally, House members raised $700 million, 79 percent of which came from outside members’ districts.

The study tracked donations of $200 or more.

“Instead of a voting democracy, we have a dollar democracy – may the biggest-spending special interest win,” said MAPLight executive director Daniel Newman.

Other Bay State lawmakers’ donations included:

Rep. Richard Neal (D-Springfield), $1.1 million, 90 percent out-of-district, 22 percent from Massachusetts;

Rep. Michael Capuano (D-Somerville), $1.2 million, 85 percent from outside his district, 45 percent from Massachusetts;

Rep. James McGovern (D-Worcester), $1 million, 82 percent out-of-district, 47 percent in-state;

Rep. Bill Delahunt (D-Quincy), $802,000, 81 percent out-of-district, 52 percent in-state;

Rep. James Olver (D-Amherst), $971,000, 79 percent out-of-district, 45 percent in-state;

Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-S. Boston), $1.45 million, 73 percent out-of-district, 62 percent in-state;

Rep. John Tierney (D-Salem), $769,000, 58 percent out-of-district, 57 percent in-state.

Bailout Roll Call

How did your representative vote on the $700 billion bailout?

U.S. Reps. Barney Frank, Michael Capuano, Ed Markey, John Olver, Richard Neal, Jim McGovern and Niki Tsongas voted for the massive $700 billion plan that ultimately failed on a 228-205 vote.

Congressmen Stephen Lynch, William Delahunt and John Tierney bucked leadership by voting against the legislation.

All 10 of Massachusetts’ House members are Democrats.

The overall party breakdown on the bill was:

140 Democrats and 65 Republicans in favor.

95 Democrats and 133 Republicans against.

Massachusetts Reps Against John Doe

It is a disgrace–but not a surprise–that only one of the Massachusetts Democrats in the House of Representatives voted in favor of all of us “John Does.”

House Republicans yesterday surprised Democrats with a procedural vote to protect public-transportation passengers from being sued if they report suspicious activity — the first step by lawmakers to protect “John Doe” airline travelers already targeted in such a lawsuit.

After a heated debate and calls for order, the motion to recommit the Democrats’ Rail and Public Transportation Security Act of 2007 back to committee with instructions to add the protective language passed on a vote of 304-121.

All 121 of the “no” votes were cast by Democrats, while 199 Republicans and 105 Democrats voted in favor.

And who among our ten representatives voted for protecting “John Doe”? Again, not a surprise, it was Rep. Stephen Lynch representing the 9th District.

As for the rest of them, John Olver, Richard Neal, James McGovern, Barney Frank, Marty Meehan, John Tierney, Ed Markey, Michael Capuano, and Bill Delahunt…thanks for letting us know who you care about more than your constituents.

And go screw.