MA-05: Blurring, Nativism

by: Matt Stoller

Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 09:53

That's the mailer that Jim Ogonowski sent out that should be hitting the district in the next few days. It's the cover he's using for opposing SCHIP expansion, so expect to see this all over Republican messaging in the next year. The Republicans are testing out messaging with the Ogonowski campaign.

The flyer is not true - the Lowell Sun didn't make those arguments. Still, I am curious if the MA-05 electorate is receptive to this messaging. It's a conservative Democratic district that has not been targeted by Republicans for some time on a national level, though the vicious race-baiting happened on a gubernatorial level in 2006 against Deval Patrick.

The combination of blurring on Iraq, calling for bipartisanship, and nativism is an expected formula for Republicans who have to run against their party without losing their base. Tsongas is becoming more progressive and partisan, and she's not that well-liked by the Lowell Democratic insiders. If you're in the area, consider helping her out. It's going to be a low turnout election, so volunteering will have an outsized impact.

You can always find more at Blue Mass Group. And if you know the district, give us your thoughts in the comments.

Matt Stoller :: MA-05: Blurring, Nativism

Tags: Jim Ogonowski, Niki Tsongas, MA-05, (All Tags)

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MA-05: Blurring, Nativism | 2 comments

He's going nasty (4.00 / 1)

It'd be nice to think that this is a sign of desperation, but realistically in a district like this a nasty strategy was always going to happen.

In terms of national politics, would it be worth counter-punching in an even more brutal manner, trying to tear him apart over the SCHIP issue? If he could be tied to the national party and heavily damaged over the issue and if suggestions were made that this strategy would be used in 2008 against every Republican who refused to override, it might be worth a few votes from their more endangered congressmen.

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by: Englishlefty @ Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 09:14:53 AM CDT

A powerful ad (4.00 / 3)

might point out that whoever is elected will likely get to actually vote on the veto override. Say how popular it is by pointing out polling data and that it was passed by a significant bipartisan majority in congress but Bush is standing in the way of poor kids getting health care. The tag would be something like Ogonowski will stand with Bush and vote to sustain while Nikki Tsongas will vote to override and stand with kids. It could be a vehicle for the Dems own message testing on an issue which everybody seems to agree is heavily slanted in their favor.

by: conspiracy @ Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 09:46:50 AM CDT

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