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LAS14

(13,749 posts)
Wed Sep 2, 2020, 10:43 AM Sep 2020

Any theories about why the striking turn around in the Markey Kennedy race?

The pundits tell us it was the young progressives (who probably have only the vaguest idea of who John and Robert were) and older voters (who, I assume, don't approve of good people being chucked just because of their age). But why was Kennedy in the lead for so many months and then Markey won by over 10 points? What was the turning point and why?

tia
las

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PoindexterOglethorpe

(25,750 posts)
1. I don't live in Massachusetts, so I might be wrong here
Wed Sep 2, 2020, 10:45 AM
Sep 2020

but perhaps a lot more voters were impressed by AOC's endorsement of Markey than by Pelosi's endorsement of Kennedy. Just a guess.

LAS14

(13,749 posts)
9. Yeah, but AOC endorsed Markey many months ago. The turn around was very recent. Maybe...
Wed Sep 2, 2020, 12:14 PM
Sep 2020

... it all hinged on Pelosi's endorsement. Markey supporters waking up to the fact that there was a real race here.

Mike 03

(16,616 posts)
2. Kennedy had been losing ground for a few weeks.
Wed Sep 2, 2020, 10:47 AM
Sep 2020

I don't live in MA, but heard an interview with Kennedy and he just wasn't that impressive.

The way one reporter described it last night, (paraphrasing): Markey is really well-liked and hadn't done anything wrong that the people of MA wanted to fire him.

Laelth

(32,017 posts)
3. I don't think that Kennedy was in the lead.
Wed Sep 2, 2020, 10:49 AM
Sep 2020

Not for long, at least. Markey is a liberal champion. I am glad he won. It was really bad form for Kennedy to primary him.

-Laelth

 

Klaralven

(7,510 posts)
4. Looks like Markey took Boston and higher-income towns, while Kennedy took lower-income
Wed Sep 2, 2020, 10:53 AM
Sep 2020

See the map

https://www.wbur.org/news/2020/09/01/markey-kennedy-senate-primary-results

Markey took Boston, which was in his old congressional district 7, but he also took most of the northern and western Boston suburbs, except for some of the grittier ones like Lynn, Saugus, Revere ...

Kennedy took places like Salisbury, Haverhill, Lowell, Lawrence, Worcester, Springfield, Fall River, New Bedford, as well as his congressional district 4.

Not sure what that means for Kennedy's future prospects.

TreasonousBastard

(43,049 posts)
5. Somebody on the radio this morning said Markey simply "outcampaigned" Kennedy...
Wed Sep 2, 2020, 10:59 AM
Sep 2020

Talking about stuff people actually cared about.

still_one

(91,965 posts)
6. It isn't complicated. Markey has done a good job, and was the incumbent. Both Markey and
Wed Sep 2, 2020, 11:03 AM
Sep 2020

Kennedy, regardless of what anyone tries to say, are almost identical on the issues


unblock

(51,974 posts)
7. markey has been a fine senator with good approval numbers. it's really hard to primary that.
Wed Sep 2, 2020, 11:09 AM
Sep 2020

the worst attack against markey was that maybe he didn't spend enough time in massachusetts with constituents. if that was true, having to defend himself in a primary solved that problem.

i also don't think kennedy offered a big enough difference.


this is not like when aoc primaried crowley. aoc is a force to be reckoned with, she has massive charisma and differentiated herself from crowley by being notably and unapologetically leftist.

seems odd to describe a kennedy as falling short in the charisma department, but this one is no aoc, and he didn't offer enough of a contrast to markey.

JI7

(89,182 posts)
12. Kennedy went negative in campaigning and came off entitled
Wed Sep 2, 2020, 01:28 PM
Sep 2020

there were some appearances where he came off badly while Markey came off much more likable.

And his reason for running just seemed to be that he was a Kennedy.

This is when the numbers turned.

JI7

(89,182 posts)
13. Kennedy was not in the lead by the time elections came up
Wed Sep 2, 2020, 01:29 PM
Sep 2020

Kennedy had lost his lead some time ago.

Yavin4

(35,357 posts)
15. When I read this thread, I'm imaging everyone's post being read in a thick Boston accent.
Wed Sep 2, 2020, 01:35 PM
Sep 2020

Why? I dunno.

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