Massachusetts Primary today...

[zanne]

Deval Patrick is way ahead in the polls. This is something to actually look forward to! I haven't seen it mentioned anywhere, so here's a big yahoo from zanne.:woohoo:

[Bill McBlueState]

1. i voted!

For Deval.

And for Peter Vickery for Governor's Council, but that's only of interest to people from Western Mass.

[chelsea0011]

2. undecided right to end but went with Patrick. Three good Dem

candidates this time around, but I think Reilly is the only one who could lose to the Lt. Gov....ummmm, what's her name?

[skids]

3. voted.

Patrick's going to walk away with South Hadley judging from lawn signs. Don't know how Vickery is shaping up, or the Lt Gov primary or Sec State.

[Bill McBlueState]

4. I'm worried about Vickery's chances

This is only from my experience in Franklin County, mind you, but Merrigan signs outnumber Vickery signs by about 4 to 1 up here. Merrigan seems to be more of an establishment type of guy.

[Sydnie]

5. I voted for Deval and Bonifaz

Our county is having a knock down drag out fight over DA. Sutter is way ahead in the polls but Walsh has his base support to draw from. There is no repug candidate for DA, so the winner tonight takes all.

It will be an interesting race to watch.

[Tesha]

6. Prediction: Deval Patrick in the primary, Kerry Healey in the general.

And Healey will be elected primarily for the worst possible
reason: Racism.

She'll hold all the usual anti-tax nutcases (like Barbara Anderson
and her CLT), hold the usual pro-business gangs like the Mass High
Tech Council, and she'll pick up all the racist yobs in Boston and
elsewhere in the state.

But I would *LOVE* to be proven wrong; that would greatly improve
my opinion of humanity.

Tesha

P.S.: If racism is a factor in the primary, then Gabrielli wins
both the primary and the general election.

[skids]

7. Healy is pathetic...

...I don't think even the racist vote will save her campaign.

[Sydnie]

8. I don't think we have enough racists to make a dent for her

I did take two other people to the polls with me today. They are seniors and they don't drive. When I stopped at their house to pick them up, the man said "it looks like Mass will have their first black Governor after today". I said, "Yeah, isn't it great?" He grumbled a bit, saying something under his breath, but I think that was more to personally "get my goat" than it was a statement about the candidate. Anyway, if this guy is acknowledging that that is what is going to happen and he's ok with it (which he really is), then I don't see how they can muster up enough votes to stop Deval. After all, there is more discrimination against female candidates here than there are against any male candidates, even a black candidate.

He'll win because he's male more than lose because of his race.

And, that's my prediction.

[TayTay]

11. I agree with you on that

This State is very regressive in terms of electing women to public office. That is a bigger barrier than race.

All of which is beside the point that Deval Patrick is imminently qualified to be Governor of the Commonwealth and has run a fantastic campaign. He was/is and outsider to the political community of Massachusetts and can't be tarred as one of the 'Beacon Hill insiders' by the Republican machine. He is also talking common sense about taxes and is actually mentioning the property tax rates and how the State can help to hold them down for the homeowners of the Commonwealth. If Shannon O'Brien had talked like that 4 years ago, she'd be running for re-election right now.

Maybe, just maybe, Deval Patrick is in the lead because he is a good candidate with great ideas who was able to reach out and appeal to a wide section of the Massachusetts electorate and convince them to vote FOR him. I'm sorry if that isn't cynical enough for some people, but it just may be the case here.

[Tesha]

12. That's an interesting observation...

> He'll win because he's male more than lose because of his race.

That's an interesting observation; I'll have to ponder *THAT*
one for a while. ;)

But I will say that I don't think we can use Jane Swift's debacle
as data (and you didn't, I'm just mentioning it now); she made too
many "insider enemies" and powerful folks were trying to clear the
decks for Mitt to pursue his presidential ambitions via the Mass
governor's chair.

Tesha

[Sydnie]

14. I agree with TayTay about O'Brien

See her post #8. She would be running for relection now if she had talked more like Patrick is now.

I hope he wins. I really do.

[hyphenate]

15. I don't think so

We've had a black man as governor before, so that's not a point of contention. Deval Patrick is a very soft-spoken guy and I think that's in his favor.

How's the vote for Tim Murray? Being in Worcester where he's the mayor has been interesting with all the signs and people pulling for him--he's the native son, so he's gotten a lot of attention right now.

[Sydnie]

18. Mass has had a black governor before?

Who might that have been? How do I not know this if this is true? :shrug:

edited to add - I need to duck out to go to work. Will check the thread when I come home for the answer. thanks.

[hyphenate]

20. I checked

Brooke was a Senator. :)

[goclark]

21. Very classy Senator

[Tesha]

22. And a "New England-styled" Republican. Quite out of the current mainstream

(NT)

[hyphenate]

19. Forgive me

A boo-boo. I thought we had a black governor before, but I guess he was a Senator--Edward Brooke. Sorry about the boo-boo!

[Tesha]

23. FY (or anyones!) I...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Brooke

Interestingly enough, I knew Endicott "Chub" Peabody,
the Democrat he beat in his election to the Senate.
I'd like to have known Brooke as well; I still pass
by Peabody's house and Brooke's courthouse occasionally. :)

Tesha

[Peace Patriot]

9. Great article on JOHN BONIFAZ in The Nation...

http://www.thenation.com/blogs/thebeat?bid=1&pid=122699
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x449909

Bonifaz for Secretary of State--YES!!!

[Sydnie]

10. He got my vote and more importantly

he has a yard sign in my yard. The only sign for Sec/State in my whole town! Imagine that!

[Greeby]

13. MA people, whats the word on Dunklebarger v Lynch?

Be great to have one less Shrub-lover in the House

[MallRat]

17. Fuggedaboutit.

Only reasonably plugged-in political observers even know that Lynch had a primary challenger.

Since the district winds through South Boston, Lynch will basically hold onto the seat as long as he wants it.

[masshole]

16. We liked Ed Brooke...

(even as a Repuke) until his divorce and money problems became public, anyway.

Deval will be the next Governer of Massachusetts.