A new poll from Suffolk University and Channel 7 has "someone else" beating US Sen. John Kerry this fall, 51-38. That same entity is ahead of Gov. Deval Patrick, who is up for re-election in 2010, by a 41-39 margin.
Neither man is likely to be panicking yet, given that an early 1994 poll had "someone else" beating US Sen. Ted Kennedy easily, 52-38. Kennedy beat his actual Republican opponent that year (Mitt Romney) by 17 points.
I'm curious why Suffolk, Essex, and Middlesex Counties were not in the mix.
Posted by: Ari Herzog | June 17, 2008 at 08:37 PM
I think they were included, just not highlighted in the write-up (see below paragraph). The other 11 counties have "someone else" getting at least 60 percent, so that percentage must be lower in Essex, Middlesex, and Suffolk counties, which wouldn't be surprising.
"Still, Kerry’s weakness could be seen in several key areas: 56 percent of independents -- the largest voting block by far in Massachusetts -- said it was time to give someone else a chance. This sentiment was shared by 55 percent of voters over age 55; 60 percent of those living in Worcester, Hampden, Hampshire, Berkshire and Franklin counties; and 61 percent of voters in Bristol, Plymouth, Norfolk, Barnstable, Dukes, and Nantucket counties."
Posted by: Robert David Sullivan | June 18, 2008 at 11:36 AM
Maybe Massachusetts should do what several Latin American countries do and have a "None of the Above" line on the ballot.
Posted by: Chris VanHaight | June 19, 2008 at 08:46 PM
Nevada has that option, and very few voters use it. I think it's an American thing; people here seem to be terrified of "throwing their vote away," so they often end up voting for incumbents they don't particularly like.
Posted by: Robert David Sullivan | June 20, 2008 at 10:32 AM