The Associated PressMass. Senate Poll Shows Shift Toward GOP Candidate

BOSTON — A new poll in the Massachusetts Senate special election shows a tectonic shift in favor of the Republican Party and an impending disaster for President Barack Obama and his Democratic political agenda in Tuesday’s election.

A Suffolk University survey released late Thursday showed Republican Scott Brown with 50 percent of the vote in the race to succeed the late Democratic Sen. Edward Kennedy.

Democrat Martha Coakley had 46 percent. That made the race a statistical tie, since it was within the poll’s 4.4 percentage point margin of error. But the findings were far different from a 15-point lead the Massachusetts attorney general enjoyed in a Boston Globe survey released over the weekend.

They also signaled a possible death knell for the 60-vote Democratic supermajority the president has been relying to pass his health care overhaul and the rest of his legislative agenda.

WBUR Topics · Boston · Politics
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  • Martin Kane

    Editor:
    Your morning newsreader continues to refer to “Ted Kennedy’s seat”. There is no such seat. The US Senate seat is one of 2 that belong to the people of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. You might let your news reader know that no ownership or obligation has ever existed. And please have him cease his offensive and ignorant use of the possessive when referring to a public office.
    Thank you.

    Martin Kane
    Boston

  • Ruth Baker

    Scott Brown, the narcissist, plastered his name and image all over the internet, appeared on the horoscopes (Yes – he did; but as of this morning, though, he’s gone from those sights – perhaps, so no one would know he had his image and adds on them.), robocalled us, sent us large postcards, was all over the conservative talk radio (96.9), and has his slaves posting comments on every forum, including these of NPR.
    He won’t appear on NPR, this morning, to say a few words, suddenly?
    I see, on another posting, that he has the big bucks and the ego, to buy a new, thousands of dollars, bike for the bike meets he attends. I wonder what kind of a “regular guy” he must be to have the personal, and campaign $$ to make sure his image has been plastered everywhere – except when it comes time to face the opposition directly.

  • scrambled-eggs

    I was logging in to talk about the continued use of “Ted Kennedy’s seat” by Bob Oakes, or his script writer, but Mr. Kane beat me to the punch, and said pretty much what I wanted to say, only more eloquently . You have used this false term throughout the campaign and suggests a bias in your reporting. Perhaps this is why Scott Brown has declined your invitation for an interview?

    For the record, it is “the Senate seat for Massachusetts formerly held by the late Edward Kennedy”. More cumbersome, perhpas, but also accurate.

  • http://Manorpainting.com BuddyLauder

    It’s time we send a clear message to Washington. Stop this madness. Vote Scott Brown on Tuesday. I don’t expect unions or special interest groups to support him . Thats based on history. But just maybe there is enough voters that see where this country is going. Please vote for the person not the party.

  • Jon

    Scott Brown represents the worst kind of politician. I live in his state senate district. He has been a total no-show. Has never done anything meaningful while in office. He does politics by press release and holds radical views well outside the mainstream. Now he is doing politics by pandering to the far right to raise money and run ads that are feeding on people’s fears in these tough economic times. He’s a total opportunist. It would be embarrassing to have him as our U.S. Senator.

  • j

    Ruth Baker, what the heck are you talking about?
    You left wingers are coming unhinged.
    It’s embarrassing.

  • Rosemary Tambouret

    I am very disturbed that the Massachusetts electorate would go for Brown with his buffed PR image but a flimsy record of public accomplishments, rather than Coakley who has a solid record defending the rights of the citizens of MA. She is definitely the most qualified candidate. Direct your listeners to the Boston Globe editorial (1-14-10)in support of Coakley. The contrast is clear.

  • Brian Francis

    Fox News and the Boston Herald also use the term, “Ted Kennedy’s Senate Seat.” Before crying bias why not take two seconds to google? Republicans and their belief of phantom persecution never cease to amaze me.

  • Ruth Baker

    I think I touched a nerve with a right winger: BTW, Scott Brown has called us twice today, . . .so far – still counting. . .
    Just reporting the facts.

  • Jeffrey DiIuglio

    I’m dismayed that a right-wing Republican who is anti-abortion, anti-gay and so pro business is looking like he might capture a Senate seat held for so long by Edward Kennedy who represented the common person. Will all of the late Senator’s accomplishments vanish with this election?

  • j

    Do not worry Ruth, no nerves were touched. I was just acknowledging and laughing at your incoherent ramblings.

  • KEN WALSH

    WHAT I DON’T UNDERSTAND, IS WHY NPR IS IN EXISTENCE. IT IS A LEFTIST REPORTING VEHICLE BEING SUPPORTED BY GOVERNMENT FUNDING. ANOTHER WASTE OF AMERICAN TAXES.

  • Jon

    Don’t be fooled again. Scott Brown = Mitt Romney Lite. Pretty boy opportunist who pretends to be principled but just blows with the political winds.

  • http://GOOGLE HERBIE MANN

    YES I AGREE WITH MARTIN KANE.. THE SEAT BELONGS TO MASS…. THE COMMENTS I READ SEEMED TO BE BITTER … BUT WHY WOULD WE VOTE FOR A DEMOCRAT IF THEY ONLY MAKE THE SAME DECISIONS BEHIND CLOSED DOORS… I AM FOR HEALTHCARE BUT BOTH PARTIES ALONG WITH THE WH ARE DESTROYING THE WHOLE PURPOSE OF BI PARTISAN AGREEMENT ON SUCH A REAL IMPORTANT BILL FOR THE PEOPLE.

  • http://GOOGLE HERBIE MANN

    I AM A DEMOCRAT, BUT VOTING REPUBLICAN THIS TIME… WE HAVE GOT TO SLOW DOWN OBAMA WH, HE PUSHES FOR ISSUES FOR OVERNITE DEMANDS …. IT TAKES REAL AO TO BULLY THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ESPECIALLY DURING HIS CAMPAGAIN SPEECHES, CANNOT SEE THE TRANSPERACNY BEHIND CLOSED DOORSSSS.

  • http://www.murgiadeitrulli.com Gaynelle Mcconahy

    Let this article be an advice for everyone much more now than ever.

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