...those of you in MA in the Fifth Congressional District, that is. For those that don't know, there's a race to fill the now-vacant seat of Marty "Four Terms" Meehan, who has stepped down to become the chancellor of U MA Lowell (apparently the only way to get rid of an incubent politician in MA is to stuff them into a college...)
The two candidates are Niki Tsongas, the wife of Paul Tsongas who ran against Bill Clinton in the 1992 Democratic primary for the Democrats and Jim Ogonowski, brother of John Ogonowski who was the pilot for American Airlines Flight 11 which hit the North Tower of the World Trade Center in the September 11th attacks.
Tsongas is an absolute shoe-in. Paul Tsongas was one of the most popular politicians in recent MA history, a man who served MA as a Senator (John Kerry's seat) until being stricken with cancer, which he went on to beat and then run for president in 1992. There's an arena in Lowell (his home town) that bears his name.
And yet... It's not a runaway. Even with Big Bill Clinton campaigning for her, Niki Tsongas is locked in a tight race - for Massachusetts, that is. A state that, let's not forget, has some 90% of its state senate as Democrats; the Governor's mansion occupied by a Democrat; and every single national office filled by a Democrat. This is the bluest of the blue states. And yet... She's struggling.
The media would like to portray Ogonowski's showing as nothing more than sympathy for his brother; however they ignore the elephant in the room of Paul Tsongas' enormous popularity which brings at least the same amount of sympathy for Niki Tsongas. She's going to win the race, by double-digits, but it will be a lot closer than it should be for a MA democrat...
If you're in the 5th Congression District, remember to vote today. I'd recommend voting for Jim Ogonowski.
That is all.
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6 comments:
Whenever I see the name "Tsongas" I recall Al Franken's impression & "I....am not....Santa Clause".
Any young punks out there below the age of 25 probably has no idea what that refers to, but it was hilarious at that time (has it really been 15 years?)
Good luck on getting the least-worst one!
As I resident of the 5th . . . I voted for Jim O. While the assertion that Niki 'The Widow' Tsongas will likely take the seat vacated by Marty 'four terms' Meehan, I think the margin of victory will be much narrower than a lot of folks think.
brad,
I'd be SHOCKED if Tsongas wins with less than a double-digit lead. Shocked...
Wow, looks like she won in a very NARROW race. Don't know what that indicates, but since Markos Moulitsas said it means "probably nothing", you can take it to the bank that it means something.
Wow.
Well, as I mentioned, I'm shocked.
Even with massive voter fraud (COUNT on it), they could only squeak out a 5% lead for Niki.
That's ASTOUNDING.
The widow of an EXTREMELY popular Senator BARELY made it past a complete unknown. Even given Ogonowski's famous brother, that's something...
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