Hmmmm......is race playing a role in Mass? Mccain within 2 of Obama

Just saw the new SurveyUSA poll posted with Mccain and Obama locked in a dead heat in Mass of all places. Hillary's up 52-43 though. MA hasn't gone republican in a presidential election since 1984 but Mccain seems to have a good shot here. The only reason that I can think of to possibly explain is is that MA general election voters are a bit uncomfortable with Senator Obama's race. A state that has gone blue for 24 years and looks to stay blue if Hillary wins the nomination is in play with Obama.

MA also went to Clinton by an even larger margin than California/New Jersey did.

New Hampshire borders Mass. Both states turned against Obama.

Bradley effect in both? I remember reading a Dailykos post on the night of the New Hampshire primary where a poster in New England mentioned that he has a friend that works with mentally disabled people, is a solid liberal, but they were playing football one day and this friend told the poster "I'd never vote for a n______."

Could race be a big factor in Mass. How else does Old man Mccain do so well in the bluest state in the union with the governor and both senators Obama backers?

Shoots that theory all to hell.

and NY votes solid blue but is also one of the most anti-gay states in the union. Another element of northern discrimination at play perhaps.

Because, I am sorry, there's just no other excuse for Teddy Kennedy's state to be voting for Old Man Mccain. No way.

to legalize same-sex marriage. There's discrimination for you!

Deval Patrick

Deval Patrick has done a terrible job during his first term in government. Obama is running a campaign similar to Patrick, so a significant number may be turned off. Patrick was an untested African American who ran a brilliant campaign based on hope and unity. He also graduated from Harvard Law. After elected, he ran into scandal after scandal.

Of course this SHOULDN'T have any impact on what people think of Obama, who is far, far more tested than Patrick was.

Mass. voters would dismiss ALL African American candidates because their black governor is disappointing them.

They both ran a similar campaign based on hope and unity, and got votes by inspiring rhetoric. Both are civil rights activists. Patrick was untested and many believe Obama is inexperienced (which is not true). They both went to Harvard Law. Finally, Patrick is the cochairman of Obama's campaign.

and he is improving. But a lot of rookie flailing took place at the start, and his outsider status which was such an asset in the campaign proved to be a stumbling block when the time came to get his agenda through the legislature.

It is not the color of his skin that people are reacting to. It is hearing the same damn words we fell for last time.

People's skepticism makes sense seen in this light.

People don't realize Obama has spent 3 terms in state legislature and 7 years as a senator. Patrick had never been on the state legislature, much less the senate or house of representatives.

but I think a lot of people don't really pay much attention to the candidates' backgrounds or experience. They know what they see on TV or hear on the radio.

Or something else? If it's the former...Those are not scandals by any estimation, unless you subscribe to the Boston Herald worldview.

And correct me if I'm wrong but...you don't live here, do you?

which cast Deval Patrick in a negative light. Whatever I say certainly must be taken with a grain of salt.

(from Wikipedia)

Tell the Massachusetts electorate to check out the magnificent Commonwealth of Pennsylvania if they want to see money squandered.

Re: the First Lady having a staff assistant (only one?)
Governor Rendell's wife has a staff of 4 - That's 4 state employees, the lowest paid of which would be making around $35,000, plus extremely generous benefits. I would expect there's minimally $250,000 budgeted for her staff.

"The Office of the (PA)First Lady coordinates the First Lady’s public events and outreach projects with both community organizations and governmental agencies throughout the state. Its staff implements projects undertaken by the First Lady and works closely with the management of the Governor’s Residence to coordinate official state dinners, business meetings, receptions and cultural exhibitions, as well as its historic preservation.

Staff

Beth Specker, Chief of Staff to the First Lady
Sue Perrotty, Special Advisor to the First Lady
Dee McPherson, Executive Assistant to the First Lady & Scheduler
Kristen Swinehart, Special Assistant to the First Lady
################################

Next - the $11,000 for new drapes in the governor's capitol suite of offices.

A governor's suite is where all kinds of ceremonies, such as signing bills or awarding honors, etc., are held, most of which are filmed by TV crews. You don't want ratty draperies. In PA the floor-to-high-ceiling drapes in the Governor's suites are quite elaborately lined, trimmed with froo-fraw braids, topped with elaborate valences, and with a second set of lush and expensive "sheers" underneath. Professionally installed of course. I estimate replacing the drapes in the PA ceremonial governor's offices would cost $20,000, minimum. I think it's justifiable to keep the public rooms looking good. It's not like your governor was redecorating his private residence. The PA Governor has a Williamsburg type governor's mansion, and the new first ladies usually redecorate parts of it when they first arrive.

##################The Mass. Governor leases ONE Cadillac?

And the Governor of the Mass. chose a Cadillac instead of a Ford? Big whoop. When Tom Ridge was governor of PA, he and all his senior staff were chauferred around by state police drivers decked out like secret service guys (dark suits, shades, ear pieces) in matching dark blue Lincolns. Ridge never had less than 4 state troopers as his body guards at all times (in addition to his driver) so you'd usually see 3 of the Lincolns parked wherever the Governor was - and all this security was before 9/11.

But on the negative side, I can easily understand that a brand new governor with no legislative/govt. experience is going to be pitifully ineffective. He must be in way over his head.
It was hubris for him to run for that level of office, and it was foolish of the Dem party in Mass. to allow it. Given his close ties to Obama (whom I enthusiastically support), I can understand why the Mass. electorate is negative toward Obama. I hope they will come around, because Obama does have a lot more experience, and McCain would be a nightmare. On the other hand, I hope Obama doesn't plan to slot his friend/campaign manager into a Cabinet position. Maybe appoint him to the Federal bench.

I am less then impressed and I was a huge Patrick fan.

with DiMasi and the legislature than with Patrick. Sigh.

People here were thirsting for change- we ate up the words of hope and change like candy- we were convinced by his words that amazing things would happen.

The reality set in.

Result is the same... people here aren't buying into that fairytale again. They aren't buying into the concept that one man can change everything.

I like Deval, I don't regret my vote. But I think many feel disappointed.

I can honestly say Obama doesn't inspire me. His pretty words, though I believe they are genuine, will in the end prove just more empty words, no actions to back them up, due to the nature of the job and the walls in which he must work.

We'd better figure it out. Kennedy backlash, maybe?

thanks for speaking for us though...

Judging from the responses, I perhaps should have waited for a MA resident to respond.

just not my experience that he is universally disliked at this time.

Especially in light of the last one... x(

Kinda different.

Again kind of different.

mccain crushed bush in the 2000 primary in mass (65-32%) as we saw many cross party lines to vote for him

clinton support is very strong here.

do not worry, in the GE mass will side with obama.

I've recited his talking points. :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

He posts a demand Obama supporters counter one of his charges, five people do, he ignores them, and then an hour later triumphantly posts that nobody has been able to refute his logic.

I'm just disgusted with Mass right now and disgusted that Mccain has such a strong support base there apparently.

his Dem friends consider Duval a worthless do nothing, and are relating Obama to him. This is a family that spent 2 months in Tennessee working for Ford, so I wouldn't consider them recist.

Duval is not highly regarded at all. But to suggest that Duval = Obama is ludicrous.

Look at all the people who voted for Dumbya over Gore - one of the most qualified men to ever run for President.

It is the abuse Romney gave us that still stings.

Deval. Got it?

and I still like Patrick. Funny eh? Glad you don't consider your friends', friend racist though.

But we then saw the result of the pretty words and speeches. The same pretty words and speeches Obama is giving. We saw that words like hope and change can be pretty damn empty if nothing is accomplished for whatever reason.

Perhaps THAT is why you see McCain beating Obama in MA.

People here do not like to be fooled twice.

Same speeches, same words, same ideas......same results? Pretty darn good chance.

Before elected, he was not a member of the state legislature. Obama has served three successful terms in the state legislature in addition to 7 succesful years in the senate.

over Obama. And in states like Kansas, Obama is within 5 pts of McCain. He's not Patrick, no matter how much you try and push that line. And before you accuse me of not knowing your state, I do indeed know it. I lived there for 10 years and my brother lives in W. Boxford, so I'm not exactly ignorant of MA politics. Obama will take every state in New England with ease.

We just elected a black Gov. in a LANDSLIDE election. We are also the only state were Gay people are full and equal citizens. You can take your charge of racism and shove it, thanks.

Obama may be linked with Deval, but McCain is nothing more than Bush with 10 more IQ points. MA voters should know that.

In the end MA will side with the Dems.

As you said, Deval has done a lot of damage. Obama has some convincing to do. I only hope the good citizens of MA watch the debates and check his senate/state legislature record before forming final opinions.

NM, MN, CA and NY,
winning OR, VA and IA while she loses
and losing KS by 6, while Hillary loses by 24?

Is race a factor there?

like New Mexico, Oregon, Washington, Colorado, Minnesota and even her own state of NY. I think Obama will be fine in MA.

That is eons in politics. If the GE comes around and McCain is competitive in Mass, which he won't be, Obama's in big trouble.

And I don't happen to agree to those here who say Deval Patrick's admin has been a disaster. He's definitely made some missteps, and he hasn't accomplished everything he set out to do. But I wouldn't call it a disaster, not by a long shot.

Parts of MA are actually more conservative than some folks think. I live in one of those areas. (North Middlesex County) Why do you think we had 16 straight years of rethug governors (including 4 years of Mittens) up until Deval Patrick was elected?

It's got to be something else....

keep recycling that shit.

AGAIn Obamites trot out the "racist!" charge whenever Obama struggles somewhere or with a demographic. If Obamites keep this up it will hurt him if he makes it to the general because people won't want to see the race charge thrown around like cotton candy for 4 years.

the attitudes of the person from New England that you refer to are existent everywhere in this country. Thankfully that attitude belongs to a dying breed...except of course for those who want to make sure it is instilled in the younger generations. I live in Massachusetts, but fortunately do not associate with those with beliefs like the poster in New England that you refer to.