Recently, the state of Massachussetts held a special election to fill the seat left vacant by deceased senator Ted Kennedy.
At the beginning of the race, very little national attention was given. This is largely in part because it was generally taken for granted that the Democratic candidate and current state’s attorney general, Martha Coakley, would overwhelmingly carry the historically bluedog state. After all, the Democratic candidate for the 2004 presidential election, John Kerry, holds the other U.S. senate seat. Not to mention that current president, Barrack Obama, overwhelmingly carried the state not much more than a year ago.
Then the unthinkable happened. A strong willed, charismatic state senator by the name of Scott Brown, began gaining points in the polls. At first, this rise in the polls was attributed to the growing number of independents in the state pulling for Brown. As election day in January loomed closer, and Brown kept gaining in the polls, America started to pay attention. When it was all said and done, to much of America’s surprise, Brown won.
Brown’s election changed the conversation on Capitol Hill. Besides the impending 41st vote that Brown promised in campaigns to cast against the current healthcare bill, there are many changes predicted to be made by the party in power. Many would claim that the American people have spoken, and they are tired of how Congress is handling their affairs. All of the backroom deals, buying votes, and constant back and forth arguing is leaving the American people in the same place they were when all of this started. This message is not just to the Democrats in congress, it goes out to the Republicans and Independents as well.
If the Democrats plan to continue their majority on the hill, they better pay attention fast. Midterm elections are right around the corner, and this time, the American people mean business.
Bradford Traywick