BOSTON — Democrats in Massachusetts are scrambling to hold onto what has been among their safest U.S. Senate seats — the one long held by the late Edward Kennedy — in a special election that could change the balance of power in the U.S. Congress.
If Republicans pull off what would be a shocking victory in the Jan. 19 vote, as polls show is at least possible, Democrats would lose the U.S. Senate supermajority needed to pass healthcare reform and much of the rest of President Barack Obama’s agenda.
To be sure, Democrats are expected to ultimately prevail. But they have brought in their big guns, including former President Bill Clinton, to campaign this week for their nominee, Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley.
Mr. Kennedy’s widow, Vicki, also broke her silence on the election with a Coakley endorsement. Mr. Kennedy died of brain cancer in August at age 77 after serving nearly a half century in the Senate.
“Democrats have woken up,” said Jennifer Duffy, who tracks Senate races for the nonpartisan Cook Political Report. “I’d say the chances are 95% that she wins.”
At one point Ms. Coakley led by 30 percentage points over Republican state senator Scott Brown. But her lead has narrowed amid an anti-incumbent mood and a backlash against the Democrats’ healthcare plan and high unemployment.
[More]
Updates:
2:28 pm EST, January 13th, 2010 — Heckuva Revolt
2:29 pm EST, January 13th, 2010 — Standard reporter shoved
2:31 pm EST, January 13th, 2010 — Coakley Admits She Is In Deep Trouble
4:48 pm EST, January 13th, 2010 — Seating Mass. Senate winner could be delayed
This is an exciting race and if a Republican candidate can come this close in such a Democratic stronghold just wait until the regular elections. Lots of politicians should be checking the want-ads right about now.
Coakley casually watching her thug mug the reporter.
http://twitpic.com/xxbzf
What a slap down for Gergan in the debate, This is the peoples seat, not a Kennedy seat or a Democratic seat.
Great irony would be if he wins and caused the health care bill go belly up. Considering it has been referred to as the Ted Kennedy Bill.
And how many voters will mark an x by the Kennedy name on the ballot, thinking it is one of the Kennedys.
In Martha Coakley’s debate with Brown she said the following:
“I think we have done what we are going to be able to do in Afghanistan. I think that we should plan an exit strategy. Yes. I’m not sure there is a way to succeed. If the goal was and the mission in Afghanistan was to go in because we believed that the Taliban was giving harbor to terrorists. We supported that. I supported that. They’re gone. They’re not there anymore”
Now, can you image what the legacy MSM would be doing if Sarah Palin had said that?
But if Coakley does get elected, with that kind of Foreign Policy knowledge, Obama will have her on his list to replace Hilary as Sec.of State.
True so true nomdeblog – this is just the kind of gal that BHO would like to have on his staff – she is so air brained that he could teleprompt her into turning up for communion, naked.
Great info! I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I don’t know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often. http://www.attorney-dwi.info/