About | RSS

TPMDC

Turnout Low In Massachusetts Senate Primary

Eric Kleefeld | December 8, 2009, 6:37PM

Spread the word. Share this article on Facebook!

The late Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA)

MA-SEN, Martha Coakley, Mike Capuano

Send to a friend!

Turnout in today's Democratic primary for the Massachusetts special election for Senate -- tantamount to election for Ted Kennedy's seat, in this deep-blue state -- is turning out to be astonishingly low.

The Boston Globe reports that as of 3 p.m. ET, only 35,000 people had voted in Boston, less than 10% of the city's registered voters.

The Boston Herald speculates that the lower turnout could possibly benefit Rep. Mike Capuano, who is widely seen as the underdog against state Attorney General Martha Coakley. For what it's worth, Capuano's home town of Somerville, where he served as mayor before his election to Congress in 1988, is having a relatively higher turnout -- at 1 p.m., it was a whopping 12.5 percent.

Comments (12) | Join the Conversation!

Recommend Recommend (2)

JustAChicagoVoter

December 8, 2009 7:26 PM

Can anyone give me a quick rundown of who these two are, politically? Is there a consensus among TPMers from MA on whom they want to win? Inquiring minds want to know.

Reply | Flag Abuse

Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?

BooDoo

December 8, 2009 8:15 PM

Coakley is the "law and order" Dem and Capuano is a state senator trying to go national.

I personally would not vote for Coakley for this position, but Capuano is not exactly inspiring. I do think he'll do a better job of it, though.

Reply | Flag Abuse

Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?

JustAChicagoVoter

December 8, 2009 8:28 PM in reply to BooDoo

Man. Really? That doesn't sound too promising either way. It's a shame not to have good choices for a replacement for such a damn fine senator. I am actually somewhat surprised - I had a bit more faith in MA than that.

Reply | Flag Abuse

Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?

JNagarya

December 8, 2009 8:57 PM in reply to BooDoo

Coakley is a former county Distrct Attorney, and now MA AG. She's a liberal, not "law and order". Capuana is a US representative.

Coakley has state-wide name recognition. Capuana is barely known in his district.

Either would be a good choice, though Capuano is a bit too aggresive for the Senate.

At the beginning Coakley lead by 30 points -- even though she hadn't money at the time. And locally it's said that low turnout is BAD for Capuano. I prefer Coakley: I'd like to see a woman in that position.

Reply | Flag Abuse

Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?

Central Square

December 8, 2009 8:23 PM

Capuano is a Rep in the House and is very close to Speaker Pelosi who endorsed him. He's an old fashioned street brawler type pol (and I mean that as a compliment). He's rough around the edges, but is considered a pretty shrewd inside player, especially now that Pelosi is Speaker. Coakley is definetly a L+A type. Even sort of looks the part. She's smart and sharp and polished. The two would vote identically on every issue. Coakley is not as well connected is DC and might not be able to do as much as quickly for the state as Capuano, but has national senator potential. I live in Cambridge and voted for Martha (I have a 18 month old daughter). Capuano is the closest thing left to a Tip O'Neil style pol, for that I like him, but not enough to give him Teddy's seat...but I'd rather have a beer with him.

Reply | Flag Abuse

Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?

JNagarya

December 8, 2009 9:03 PM in reply to Central Square

Good analysis. I like Capuano -- he's good in debate, which was a pleasant surprise. But Coakley is also good in debate.

I've always liked her. "Law and order" type? when she ended her tenure as president of the MA Bar, she gave a press conference in which she said that judges "rubber stamp" restraining orders -- that such orders are definitely abused.

That impressed as to objectivity, because it is women who abuse the orders.

I wouldn't class Capuano as a "brawler" or back-room Tip O'Neill style politician. He's actually welll-educated and spoken. It's just that's he comes from working class, and has remained down to earth.

Again, I like him -- but voted for Coakley, though I hated doing it: it means the relationship she and I never had will end when she goes to Washington.

Reply | Flag Abuse

Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?

JNagarya

December 8, 2009 9:06 PM

The turn-out Capuano needed was in Boston -- his district. Coakley was aiming more for the suburbs, and comes from Western Massachusetts, so she is likely to see a significant turn-out for her.

She also likely has most of the women voters.

Again, Coakley isn't "law and order" as one might think. She's liberal, but nor screaming liberal. Something of a natual center-left liberal.

Reply | Flag Abuse

Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?

VexSmith

December 8, 2009 10:02 PM

Capuano was educated in that tough urban atmosphere in Hanover,NH. He had to be hurt quite a bit by the spendthrift Pagliuca being the other Italian candidate.

I think Ma just quickly can to the conclusion that it was time for a woman and Coakley was in the right place,right time. She's come a long way the last ten years--including her marriage-- and much of it has been unexpected.

Reply | Flag Abuse

Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?