This week the Republicans have discovered a new hero. Scott Brown, a conservative Republican, was elected senator from Massachusetts, a "liberal" state. Not only that, but he replaces Ted Kennedy argueably one of the most liberal politician in recent memory. So is this an historic event or just another day in the topsy-turvey world of the current political climate in the US.
One thing is for sure, the Republicans are looking for heroes and what a better hero than a conservative Senator from the Northeast. He has shown himself as an engaging personality, likeable, with a sense of humor. Furthermore, he can probably articulate his ideas and hopefully can identify the newspapers he reads.
But Senator Brown has 2 years to prove himself to the people of Massachusetts, in 2012 he will face reelection. His record will in all likelihood be conservative, he probably will not venture far from Republican orthodoxy. Whether this is the ideology that the citizens of Massacusetts have accepted or whether this was a knee jerk reaction to the lackadaisical campaign by his opponent, Martha Coakley, will be then determined.
But on the national stage, perhaps one of the biggest losers is Sarah Palin. She becomes overshadowed by a pickup driving newly elected Senator from the Northeast. He can become the poster boy in just about any Republican state, much less a Democratic state whose population is tired of complicated solutions. He is everyman, accessible, someone you can identify with. Again, whether this holds or not depends on his performance in the next several months. But I'm sure he will have lots of help.
I think the election of Scott Brown is an example of the John Silber Effect. i.e. how Massachusetts elected Republican William Weld Governor. In a split field primary, a niche candidate gets elected that appeals to a small percentage of staunch supporters, but is unappealing to the vast majority of voters.
ReplyDeleteIn this case, Martha Coakly "Oh, she is another Hillary Clinton", just was not palatable. If the Democrats had elected Michael Capuano, I doubt if Scott Brown would have gotten a toe hold.
Let's hope that Scott Brown ends up to be surprisingly competent, like Weld, and not a pawn for the national Republican Party to be discarded when his 15 minutes of fame runs out, like Sarah Palin