further ahead

We in Mass. realize that Romney did next to nothing as governor, so no one wants him as president. The ultimate political opportunist.
Meanwhile, Brown won last time because he showed more personality than his opponent, and there's a bit of that happening again. He's the guy you want to have a beer with (remember that from Bush v. Gore), and Warren has come across as more of a policy wonk. People who have met her think she's warm and nice, but that hasn't come across in her TV ads, etc. We'll see what happens in the debates, when Warren could show her smarts and her warmth.
Interesting that both Romney and Brown have used some of the same operatives -- guess there's no way to make Mitt look warm and friendly!

However, preferring the "likable" candidate is superficial. Yet isn't that what accounts for a large percentage of independent votes in any election -- gut feelings? I think studies support that concept, just as other studies show that the taller candidate usually wins. I'm not condoning it, but it definitely was the reality when Brown won his Senate seat.

a) Lost the state he governed in a general election, and
b) Gotten his ass kicked in said state by over 30 points?

To know him is not to love him.

Stevenson was the incumbent governor of Illinois and he lost 55-45 and Al Smith, the Governor of New York lost NY to Herbert Hoover in 1928 by a narrow 50-47. But it looks like Mittens will take the cake.

At least they kept it respectable in what were blowout elections. This will be comparatively much closer, making the home-state loss margin all the more remarkable, IMO.

The one I posted showed Obama with basically a 2-1 lead, although with some difference between likely and registered voters.