| I'm hearing rumors that Ogonowski is closer than 10 points to Tsongas in the MA-05 special election set for 10/16, and there's some worry in the commonwealth among Democrats. Bill Clinton was in town for Tsongas, drawing huge crowds, which suggests this isn't the gimme contest it should be. Tsongas's opponent, Ogonowski, is very effectively going after her with a message that the problem with government is excessive partisanship while rhetorically tacking to the left of her on Iraq, health care, and Social Security.
Here he is on Social Security.
Jim Ogonowski said, "Niki Tsongas is another Washington insider who will say anything to get elected. With the polls saying she is losing with seniors, Niki Tsongas now says she opposes increasing the retirement age. This is very different than what she said in June. I will never vote to raise the retirement age for social security."
Here he is on health care:
When polling shows that voters don't agree with Niki Tsongas on a position, she does what all Washington politicians do - she changes her position. This is just politics Washington style, another political trick designed to hide the fact that Niki Tsongas doesn't hold any real convictions. She thinks that Washington values are a winning play in the 5th Congressional District. Her pandering coupled with her partisan rhetoric make it crystal clear who Niki Tsongas really is: yet another Washington D.C. insider who will put Washington values and special interests over the people's interests.
While Niki Tsongas calls her friends in Washington for more partisan attacks, Jim Ogonowski will continue to look for bi-partisan solutions to the problems America faces. Government is too big, too corrupt, and too partisan. The people of the 5th Congressional District looking for leaders who are hardworking, down-to-earth, and willing to work across the aisle to find bi-partisan solutions for America. They don't want another career politician who thinks a broken Washington works. Niki Tsongas is part of the problem. Jim Ogonowski is the solution for fundamentally changing the way Washington does business.
If Democrats continue to make arguments, as Mark Warner, Steny Hoyer, and Jeanne Shaheen do on excessive partisanship in Washington, they will continue to empower people like Ogonowksi. The guy would vote against SCHIP, and he's closing in the district.
Tsongas will be a capable Democrat in Congress. She's going to be a reliable vote for mainstream Democratic values, though she is not particularly great on TV. Her centrist credentials (inherited from her husband) are hurting her in this race, allowing Ogonowski to paint her as an elitist insider even as she is much more populist than he would be in policy terms.
It's something to watch out for, and if you live in MA-05, go to Niki's website and sign up to volunteer.
UPDATE: I've done some calling around. There is real concern here. |
