Pajamas Media Poll Puts Scott Brown Ahead By 15

At least Nate did the necessary research before posting anything about it........

How nice it would be if sites like TOM and HuffPo practiced the same caution.

Wow, so much nonsense piled into so few comments.

I know there's a great temptation to not report news we don't like. But we're not really in a position to do that. If you looked a little closer you'll notice that this post was not linked in the blog or from the front page news section. And that was precisely because we didn't think it was a particularly credible poll -- because of a mix of the result, the sponsor and the organization that conducted the poll. That's also why the post emphasizes that it was conducted by a Republican firm and that the results are at odds with all the other polls out there. In our afternoon editorial meeting, we discussed how to treat this poll -- whether to put it in TPMPolltracker and whether to report it. I made the decision that we *would* put it in Polltracker and that we'd write a piece but not give it much attention, etc. In other words, we covered it this as I decided we should. And I think that was the right balance.

I know tensions are running high. And it's painful to see how the national Dems got themselves into this situation. But please don't use that as a reason to say stupid things and act out like this.

This guy is an attractive candidate. He's good-looking (and that counts for something in politics) communicates well and has a charming personality. His ads have also been very effective.

He comes across as moderate and has sponsored health-care legislation in Mass. as well as cap-and-trade. He compares himself to John Kennedy and even uses him in commercials. He's hardly the stuff that teabagger dreams are made of.

Coakley doesn't come off well. She reminds me of Geraldine Ferraro, smart and competent, but not very personable or attractive to voters. She obviously doesn't understand retail politics, and she doesn't have the Kennedy charm or mystique which captivated Mass. voters for generations.

Besides, any candidate who takes six days off to go on vacation with just five weeks before the election does not deserve to win, nor will she.

The GOTV machine in the bay state, especially in the greater Boston area is in good shape. Once the voters start to think about how we got into the mess were in they will take a second look at Scott Brown.

It is indeed ironic that George W. Bush campaigned as a moderate too...you know "a uniter not a divider", and look what that got us.