MA-SEN

PPP Poll: GOPer Scott Brown In Good Shape In Heavily Dem Massachusetts

Eric Kleefeld | December 2, 2010, 11:01AM

Senator Scott Brown (R-MA)

A new survey of Massachusetts from Public Policy Polling (D) finds Republican Sen. Scott Brown, who won a tremendous upset victory in last January's special election to succeed the late Democratic icon Ted Kennedy, to be in good shape heading into his 2012 re-election bid.

Brown is in front of a number of hypothetical Democratic opponents. He leads Rep. Mike Capuano, who had previously lost the Democratic primary in that special election, by 52%-36%. Brown leads Rep. Stephen Lynch by 49%-30%, leads Rep. Ed Markey by 49%-39%, and leads Gov. Deval Patrick by 49%-42%. In addition, Brown leads Vicki Kennedy, the widow of Ted Kennedy, by 48%-41%.

Brown's approval rating is 53%, to only 29% disapproval.

From the pollster's analysis: "In a sign of how moderate and mainstream Brown's image is, 53% say his views are "about right," something only 32% say of the GOP as a whole. Likewise, 52% think the Republicans too conservative, but only a third say that of Brown. Even 35% of Democrats see Brown's ideology as acceptable, though half do think him too far right."

Health Care

Capuano Suggests He's Leaning No On Health Care

Brian Beutler | March 11, 2010, 2:45PM

Rep. Michael Capuano (D-MA)

After Scott Brown won the Massachusetts special election in his home state, Rep. Mike Capuano (D-MA) sounded pretty fatalistic about health care reform. Nearly two months later, not much has changed.

In an email to supporters today, Capuano lays out a number of major complaints with both the process and the substance of the final health care reform push.

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MA-SEN

Coakley Wins Dem Primary In Massachusetts, Is Likely Next Senator

Eric Kleefeld | December 8, 2009, 10:01PM

Massachusetts Atty. Gen. Martha Coakley (D)

Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley has won the Democratic nomination in the special election for Senate -- close to a win in the general election itself, in this Democratic state, in the race to succeed the late Sen. Ted Kennedy.

With 94% of precincts reporting, Coakley has 47%, well ahead of her nearest opponent, Rep. Mike Capuano, with 28%. Coakley will face Republican state Sen. Scott Brown in the general election, which will be held on January 19, and in which the Democratic candidate will be heavily favored.

Coakley, who was elected attorney general in 2006 after having previously been Middlesex County District Attorney, was the only statewide official in the race. She began the primary as the clear frontrunner, and easily fended off efforts by Capuano to out-flank her on the left.

It should be noted that Capuano is not done with politics or out of office -- this was a special election, and he did not have to risk his current House seat for the race.

MA-SEN

Turnout Low In Massachusetts Senate Primary

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

The late Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA)

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.

MA-SEN

Pelosi Endorses Capuano In Massachusetts Senate Race

Eric Kleefeld | November 12, 2009, 1:42PM

Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Rep. Mike Capuano (D-MA)

The Boston Phoenix reports that Speaker Nancy Pelosi will step into the Massachusetts special Senate election, endorsing Rep. Mike Capuano:

Capuano is considered a top Pelosi lieutenant -- he headed her transition team when the Democrats took the majority in 2006 and made her Speaker.

Nevertheless, it was unknown whether Pelosi would publicly endorse Capuano, against a woman opponent. Pelosi has been a strong advocate of increasing the number of women in elected office; Martha Coakley would be only the 18th woman in the current US Senate if elected.

A new Suffolk poll has state Attorney General Martha Coakley in the lead with 44% in the Democratic primary, which will be held on December 8, followed by Boston Celtics co-owner Steve Pagliuca with 17%, and Capuano at 16%.

Calls to Pelosi's office and Capuano's campaign were not returned.

Late Update: It's official, with the Capuano campaign putting out a press release. Pelosi praises Capuano's work in passing the health care bill through the House -- a subtle rebuke of Coakley's statements that she would have voted against the bill because of the Stupak Amendment, which has become a big issue in the race: "Saturday the House of Representatives passed a historic health care bill that was a great victory for the American People. Mike Capuano not only cast a courageous vote for this historic legislation, but was a constructive force in improving this bill and moving it to the Senate."

The full press release is available after the jump.

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MA-SEN

Senate Candidates In Massachusetts Announce Fundraising Hauls

Eric Kleefeld | October 1, 2009, 3:30PM

Massachusetts Atty. Gen. Martha Coakley (D)

Candidates in the Massachusetts Senate special election have announced their fundraising totals, in a race that will quickly come down to a December 8 Democratic primary.

• State Attorney General Martha Coakley, the current frontrunner in the available polls, has announced that she raised $2.1 million for her campaign in September. The campaign's press release said that this was double her original goal of $1 million.

• Rep. Mike Capuano has raised $300,000. Federal records show he also had $1.2 million on hand in his Congressional account, as of June 30.

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