Kerry did better than Brown in MA candidates - Brown: It's not my fault if GOP were clobbered in MA

[Mass]

Something tells me Brown is worried about his reelection at this point. But it is not nice to say to Baker and Perry that if they lost, its because they were not good (as true as it may be).

http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2010/11/brown_weighs_in.html

Senator Scott Brown, in his first comments after the midterm elections, said today that the defeat Republicans were dealt in his home state should not be viewed as a prediction of his own fate in 2012.
...
“An endorsement certainly is one thing, but the candidates will rise and fall on their own merits,” he told reporters, according to an audio recording released by his office. Brown made the comments in Boston, following an event at the State House paying tribute to female veterans.
...
“Well, this is Massachusetts, guys. Okay?” Brown said. “And the fact that we had a tremendous amount of people getting off their couches and out of their homes, engaged -- that was what I was most excited about. The fact that people got engaged, they worked for their favorite candidate, and they made their positions known. The election is over. My election back in January’s over, this election is over. We have a tremendous amount of work to do and I’m excited to go down to Washington and do it.”

Brown also decried Democrats for not being more willing to work with him.

“Well since I’ve been down there I’ve been reaching across the aisle,” he said, when asked about President Obama’s call for bipartisanship. “I’ve had many meetings with the president and the majority party, trying to work across party lines to get things done. I’ve voted with them probably about 29, 30 percent of the time. They’ve voted with me zero. So it’s a two way street.”
...

Totally dillusional on this last point. First, I would be surprised he voted with the Dems 30 % of the time, and anyway, there are Dems who voted with the GOP 30 % of the time, I am sure.

Matt Viser also look at Kerry's record, noticed he did better than Brown in MA.

http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2010/11/kerrys_candidat.html

WASHINGTON – Senator John Kerry had a strong track record in his home state on Tuesday, but outside of Massachusetts the candidates that he supported lost more than they won.

Kerry had used his extensive fundraising network to raise money for candidates across the country, and he traveled to stump with several. Eight candidates he backed notched impressive victories – including Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, and Senator Barbara Boxer, of California – but in 10 senate races his candidates came up short. The losses included two incumbents -- Russ Feingold, of Wisconsin, and Blanche Lincoln, of Arkansas.

In several instances, the Bay State's two senators, both competitive sportsmen, went head-to-head in well-contested US Senate races. Senator Scott Brown's candidates came out on top in three of those races (Illinois, Pennsylvania, and New Hampshire), while Kerry's won in two (California and Connecticut).

Kerry fared better than Brown, though, in their home state. In Massachusetts, Kerry helped several congressional candidates -- Bill Keating, who ran in the 10th congressional district, and incumbents Niki Tsongas, Richard Neal, John Tierney, Barney Frank, and James McGovern – who all won. He also backed successful candidates Governor Deval Patrick, Attorney General Martha Coakley, Secretary of State William Galvin, Treasurer-elect Steve Grossman and state House Speaker Robert DeLeo. Two of Kerry’s Massachusetts candidates lost: state Representative Mark Falzone, and Dan Bosley, who was running for sheriff of Berkshire County but lost in the Democratic primary.
...

[MBS]

1. Wow- classy guy (NOT)

A real difference from Kerry, who's always been gracious to and about the colleagues he's supported.

[wisteria]

2. Brown's comments are really negative and snarly. I think you are right to think he is worried

about his reelection in 2012. That is why, I think, he emphasized his bipartisanship and his votes with Democrats.

[TayTay]

4. I think Scotty is starting to figure out just how hard his job is going to become

It's pretty easy to be the poster boy for independence and poseur-ness when you are in the minority. Scotty was the living embodiment of a protest vote.

Now, he has to deliver. MA has an entirely Democratic delegation, except for him. Now Scotty has sworn off earmarks, said he is not going to sully his photo-spread quality hands with anything as dirty as making sure his constituents get their fair share of the federal budget.

Fine Scotty, make it so. Tell us how you are going to get MA through bad times, keep the vital funds flowing for hospitals, schools, technology and innovation and still satisfy your national Republican masters who are spending hawks. Tell us how you are going to continue to foster growth and innovation while you starve programs of needed funding.

This is Scotty's kryptonite. Or, to put it in a particularly New Englandish way, he made his bed and now he has to lie in it.

[beachmom]

3. The national race comparison really isn't fair.

I think Kerry was very helpful, and his fundraising was a huge deal for several of our winners; Brown was irrelevant nationally. But where Kerry really had clout and true influence was in his home state. I couldn't help think that if he hadn't had hip replacement surgery, that the Coakley race would have gone the other way. It was a huge loss that Kerry was out of pocket at that time.

[karynnj]

5. I agree Kerry was very helpful in many national races

He raised money that Reid, Bennett, and Murray needed to fight the huge wave of anti-Democratic ads against them. (Had Gianoulias and Sestak made it - his money would have been part of why.) I don't know if Brown used any of his money to help any of the Republicans (he has more than Kerry). It does seem like - other than Kirk in Illinois and Foley in CT, he was not sent into close races.

In addition to the January hip replacement surgery, Kerry was tied up in DC until Christmas Eve on healthcare votes - even on the weekends. In addition, I think this was when his wife was very ill. I do think if it would have been a normal election and the senate was out of session - he would have intervened by campaigning with her to get her out on the campaign trail and generate the excitement needed.

The comparison in MA in the article is unfair and wrong. The fact is that Brown may have had some real influence in the primary in the 10th district - where both he and Romney endorsed and campaigned for Jeff Perry. Supporting Perry per some accounts was a negative for some of the Republicans in addition to him losing the only open seat.

By the way, speaking of the 10th district, Kerry was with Delahunt on Nov 2th. From the Boston Herald's gossip column:

Sen. John Kerry and outgoing U.S. Rep. Bill Delahunt celebrating the election-night Demmie delight (at least in Massachusetts) at Alba in Quincy . . . Sen. Scott Brown and his daughter Ayla cheering for the Celtics and unsuccessful auditor-wannabe Mary Connaughton at Kings Back Bay for Connaughton’s election night wake.

For me (and I suspect at least a few others here), my main impression of Delahunt was from seeing him with Kerry in Barnstable the night before the election in 2008. http://www.johnkerry.com/multimedia/entry/barnstable_democratic_town_committee_election_eve_rally_video/

At the rally, Delahunt was late, so Kerry introduced himself as he said that Delahunt would. Then hugged him when he arrive and gave his introduction to Kerry and pushed the crowd to get out and vote. After the election, Republicans attacked Kerry for having made a bet with Delahunt on his margin over Beatty as opposed to Delahunt's - Kerry won. There is something nice to be said that Kerry opted to spend the evening with Delahunt instead of going to the big celebration that Patrick had - that I would imagine he was invite to.

[beachmom]

8. Actually, I mean behind the scenes in MA.

Kerry did campaign for Coakley toward the end; that is less of what makes the difference. What matters is early money and manpower. That is where Kerry can lend a hand in '12 to take out Brown.

[karynnj]

10. I get it - you are right

[TayTay]

11. Maybe

Brown was outperformed by the ballot initiative in MA that turned DOWN a tax cut this year.

Scott Brown did well in certain areas of MA when he ran in that Special. However, he is far from invulnerable in a real election. He was outperformed by the no votes in the recent Ma general election.

What Kerry, Obama, etc said about Brown in Jan was not relevant. It was a damned Special election. The amount of mischief that out-of-state groups did at that Special was amazing. That kind of thing won't be there in the 2 year run up to the election in 2012.

Scott Brown can be had. Damn it, was was outperformed by a ballot initiative to cut taxes. I'm telling you, this guy is no shoo-in for re-election.

[karynnj]

12. It really did seem the Democrats did a great job in MA getting people out

I saw this letter on Blue Mass that purports to describe the new way MA tried to get information out and get the vote out. It is a fascinating idea. I assume that it was done in conjunction with some of the normal way of doing things. It sounds great - though may not work as well outside MA. http://www.bluemassgroup.com/diary/21442/an-open-letter-to-the-democratic-party.

[beachmom]

13. You guys need to have a competitive primary that leads to the best

candidate getting the nomination. Someone who is the opposite of John Kerry (no one should be offended by this -- give a contrast so that the state feels represented even if both Senators are from the same party). A working class man or woman. Or at least gives that perception. Someone who people will like and has a great message. Add a great organization to get the votes out, and yeah -- this should be the Democrats' #1 targeted seat.

We might lose Jim Webb in '12. He is really vulnerable in Virginia.

[Mass]

14. Or not. One of the problem with the MA primary is that there are very late.

Typically, the GOP is able to field a candidate early on without competition, so this person can campaign starting in early 2012 (in this case, it will be Brown except if some Tea Party person decides to primary it, something I am a little bit skeptical about. All the dwarfs that ran against our Congressmen were badly beaten, so I dont see who could try that).

Typically, we end up having bruising primaries on the Democratic side where people tear each other off and it is very difficult to mend pieces together in time for election time. I know this does not seem too democratic, but we have to be a little bit strategical to retake the seat. Let's choose somebody who is good (working man or not), can communicate that he cares about people and understands their problems. Let's find somebody who knows there is a life beyond 495 (or even worse 95). There are several names that come to mind and others that will announce later), but let's avoid bruising primaries that will only prevent us from attacking Brown early on.

For the rest, message and organization, of course. Let's reiterate what happened this year.

[karynnj]

6. Kerry comments on the election - with a little video

The Bay State’s Democratic congressional delegation may have bucked a national anti-incumbent trend and won their re-election battles — but some are wondering if they lost the war, as they will return to Capitol Hill stripped of their clout-wielding chairmanships.

Republicans gained a majority in the U.S. House of Representatives on Election Day, meaning in January, local Democrats will lose their powerful titles.

“It hurts,” said U.S. Sen. John F. Kerry (D-Boston) yesterday even as he lauded local Democrats for getting re-elected. “When you’re not chairman of major committees, you’ve lost clout. The fact is while we maintain seniority ... we’re not going to have quite the same ability that we did before in this state.”

http://news.bostonherald.com/news/politics/view.bg?articleid=1293912

The comments are obnoxious as usual - most missing that he is still a chair - and in fact, the only member of the delegation who is one.

[Inuca]

15. "D-Boston"!?!?! n/t

[karynnj]

16. I completely missed that

The Boston Herald has clearly lost its mind.

[Inuca]

17. And/or

its proofreaders.

[Mass]

7. BMG calls Matt Viser out on his Brown's article

http://www.bluemassgroup.com/diary/21449/matt-viser-lets-scott-brown-run-wild

Ha ha ha. On 8 March, the very same Matt Viser reported: "Kerry, Brown on same page on jobs amendment:"

The amendment failed, but the precedent should not go unnoticed: US Senator John Kerry joined onto a proposal that was being pushed by his new Republican colleague, US Senator Scott Brown.
Friends don't let friends live in a surreality-based world, and reporters need to help politicians who fall into ego traps of this magnitude, not enable them.

So, Scott, Democrats voted with you.

and Matt, learn how to do your job.

[karynnj]

9. Nice catch - and that it was JK makes it better

Also, Brown did NOT follow suit and join Kerry's TANF amendment that became part of Patty Murray's bill that combine it with summer jobs.

[ObamaKerryDem]

18. Haha, Brown sounds so bitter..

..but I guess we can't blame the dude. After all, he gets beat in the Pan Mass Challenge by JK (despite his smug assertions to the contrary) and now..this? :evilgrin:

LOL!

But seriously, I think Brown's seat is a VERY likely "pick up" for us in '12 if we run the right candidate. Plus no matter what else happens (though I am still confident he will be re-elected), the Obama "coattails" here in Mass, which I'm still confident will exist in '12 as well..

[karynnj]

19. He really is pretty thin skinned - his response was far more defensive than it should have been

As so many Republicans lost - and saying all were bad candidates doesn't cut it. Still, he could have simply taken an almost perfect position of saying that he knew it was tough to beat Democrats in MA as he already did, but he would continue working as hard as he could for MA and be the person MA would want to vote for. But - if he said that he wouldn't be Scott Brown.

[sandrakae]

20. Excuse my frankness but he sounds like a BIG FUCKING CRYBABY.

Oh thats right. He is a Republican.