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In an email announcement today the Elizabeth Warren campaign said they raised $6.9 million since January 1st for her Massachusetts Senate campaign. That figure is well in excess of the $3.4 million her opponent, incumbent Republican Scott Brown, pulled in last quarter, although the Brown campaign does have a significant amount saved up from earlier fundraising.
If this fundraising pace continues, this Massachusetts senate campaign could easily end up the most expensive Senate campaign this season, if not one of the most expensive Senate campaigns of all time. The recent polling shows that the race is very close, which is partly why it has attracted so many donors on both sides.
This contest may serve as an interesting test of whether incumbency is worth a much now as it used to be. According to Gallup Massachusetts is the state with the third highest percentage of Democrats / Democratic leaning voters. If Brown weren’t an incumbent, in a normal Presidential election environment he probably wouldn’t stand a chance running as a Republican. If polarized and increased party discipline in Congress is causing more Americans to vote straight party line, Brown will be in real trouble. Given the massive Democratic registration advantage Brown is going to need to make this a race about two people instead of two parties.
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Brown pops up like Waldo at every Obama event. it seems. His team is telling us 71% of his DONORS are instate, but won’t discuss amounts. He is attacking Warren for “out of state” money. Warren announced 83% of her donations were under $50.
It’s the only game going in the Bay State, but it should be fun!
Yes, it would be interesting to have more details on where the money comes from. A rigorous breakdown is in order, no?
We’re going to get awfully tired of phone calls from the campaigns here in Mass. . . To include ballot questions as well.
Don’t worry. After years of being a big Warren fan I’ve now come to the conclusion that she will do what every other Dem politician does:
Vote symbolically for progressive bills that have no chance of passing.
Vote “reluctantly” for vile bills when her vote counts.
And assist in the final fucking of the middle class.
The equation is simple: if she’s a Democrat, she’s a neoliberal whore.
Republican = bad.
Democrat = Worse.
Only the Dems are truly evil.
Charles Pierce is worried.
On a related note, it turns out we have an interesting woman running for Senate here in TN.
Please wait ’til she’s elected before ya’ sweet talk her like that. Remember, she’s a woman and they are very fragile, don’t cha know. Not like those big, strong, cut surfer dudes you see in all the photographs who might be ” shopped ” like Scott Brown.
I’ve met her twice, now. Groups under forty both times, in private homes. She talks a very strong game, and doesn’t talk in sound bites or platitudes. She asks questions, and answers them.
You are right, you don’t know until they are in. But I’ve been in this since Johnson/Goldwater, and I’m encouraged.
I agree.
The race will be decided I think by the Merrimack River/Valley area – Brown did well there and Warren must cut into those mill towns turned executive bedroom communities. I don’t see much fire in the belly of the usual volunteers, except for the non police/non-fire unions. If she can get the Teachers and Nurses to join the Trades as serious activists this go round she will be OK. But it is tough with Obama at the top of the ticket. Brown is up on TV already – this time dropping the I will oppose all things Democratic of 2010/11 and becoming the fellow that works with the Dems but knows when to say no. If he can sell that he wins – but to sell it he must avoid policy promises about GOP goals. It will be interesting.
Warren then gets to point out his flip-floppings. “Ah, he’s back to pretending he’s not really a Republican again, eh? Remember how he didn’t even want to say the word “Republican” when he was running for Teddy’s seat two years ago — then turned into a Republican attack dog once he was sworn in?”
Hell, all she has to do is point to his website, and note that he’s gone back to being too scared even to allow the word “Republican” on his campaign website, much less openly admit to being one.
You mean the Playgirl model Scott Brown?
Odd. I actually think of Warren as opposing most things (big-D) Democratic. I mean the stuff that the party actually DOES, not what they say they might do. Therefore, I don’t consider her to be a Democrat. More of a democrat, I guess.
Also, my recollection is that she is NOT an Obama insider. He’s got no plan for her, does not want her involved, etc. She ought to be able to deflect the “Obama-is-bad” flack coming from Brown’s campaign handily.