The Lowell Sun Breaking news section is reporting that Mr. Common Cause Scott Harshbarger is endorsing Niki Tsongas for the MA-05 seat.
Former state Attorney General Scott Harshbarger today endorsed Democratic congressional candidate Niki Tsongas in the race to replace former U.S. Rep. Marty Meehan.
Harshbarger joined Tsongas at two campaign stops in Lowell: outside the Lowell police Lower Highlands neighborhood precinct on Middlesex Street and at the site of a Community Teamwork Inc. Youthbuild project at 346 Pawtucket St.
“Niki is an exceptional person, a recognized leader and has prepared for this role all her life,” said Harshbarger, who also is a former Middlesex district attorney, according to a Tsongas campaign statement. “Being tough but smart on crime and public safety is the key to effective leadership and Niki Tsongas understands that there are solutions to these complex problems.”
It’s really a shame that two political leaders I respect, Harshbarger and Frank, are so dramatically wrong about this race. While it seems obvious that Frank made his endorsement based mostly on personal connections, I’m not clear where Harshbarger has seen Niki as a “recognized leader”.
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Overall, I’ll take Jamie’s list of endorsers over Niki’s any day of the week.
Does anyone inside the 5th District really care about who Frank (Vote Goldberg for Lt. Gov!) and Harshbarger (Vote Silbert for Lt.Gov.!)are endorsing in this Special Election?
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Has it all come down to Celebrity/Big Shot Endorsements and/or which candidate can rack up the most money in the shortest period of time to be considered a frontrunner?
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It is no wonder people woulkd rather watch Top Chef tv contests than pay attention to these plastic campaigns.
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Pah-leeze Niki, Eileen, Jamie, Barry, etal and even you, Jim O….Pah-leeze save the paper on press releases touting your friends and your donors…tell us what you really think about the issues that have the most impact on the rest of us! (And I can assure you, it’s not who endorses you or how many you have taken money from…test it on your next poll, I’m right on this one)…
It’s a special election with a shortened campaign.
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Voters won’t have as much time to be exposed to the candidates, so seeing a list of endorsements may help sway a few.
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But, the voters who are going to vote based on a list of endorsements probably won’t be motivated to make it to the polls on election day.
May be that Harshbarger and Frank know Niki Tsongas, have worked with her, respect her, trust her and aren’t influenced by the conventional wisdom trying so hard to be unconventional. Maybe they are disappointed in others for not being open minded. She is so far ahead of the mainstream politicians and most certainly the local Republicans who would only help the George Bush – Dick Cheney crowd in Washington. If Niki wins, it would be tragic for Democrats to sit on the sidelines.
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Will
…that Will is an employee or consultant for the Tsongas campaign?
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If by open minded you mean that Niki hasn’t actually taken a real stand on any critical issues, perhaps you’ve managed to find a way to turn that into a positive.
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I went to the Devens debate, not knowing who I’d be supporting. After that debate, it was clear that the only thing Niki has to offer voters is some vague idea about a better tone in Washington — with no specific plans on how to create that. She knew nothing about the issues, couldn’t answer any questions directly, and when she asked questions of other candidates, she hadn’t even thought out her own positions enough to comment when the moderator came back to her. That’s right, she didn’t know anything about the very questions she was asking.
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It was one of the worst debate performances I’d ever experienced. Sadly, many others were fooled into thinking she was ok, because she was able to turn every question into an answer about civility and tone, rather than actually saying worthwhile.
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And I will say opening I am not a staffer or volunteer on any campaign in the 5th (though that may change), I merely went to that debate to learn more about the candidates.
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If Will is working in any official capacity, I hope he’ll tell us. If not, well, Niki gets to have supporters, too.
He certainly only has one interst visiting BMG.
Aside from one comment. Noticed that, too. Then again, his interlocutor is similarly narrowly focused.
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Be interesting to see who sticks around after the votes are counted, eh? Or will they join jdhaverhill and MavDem in the BMG cryonics chamber?
having a shot at this seat if you end up with a plurality nominee whom the progressives are less than enthusiastic about? Just curious…
has gone republican repeatedly in Guberntorial Elections. It is one of the least progressive congressional districts in the state and Deval Patrick did his worst or close to his worst in this district. He only took 50.6% in the district.
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This is very winnable especially for a moderate Republican who is fiscally conservative a la Jim Ogonowski.
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Rob Eno
…And yet, I have a really hard time believing that most voters in the district, on a national election would be able to get past Ogonowski’s likely vote for GOP leadership, and probable support for the GOP line on most issues. In fact, I think the worst thing that could happen to Ogonowski would be significant national GOP money coming in the race, making it clear that he’s pretty much going to have to toe the party line.
Well, if Will disclosed a long-time connection to Niki, then my comments were probably out of line.
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But I still have trouble understanding his attack on the other candidates for lacking an open mind.