Senate primary lessons

Dick Taffe — Wed, 19 May 2010 15:54:33 +0000

U.S. Senate primaries — with Republican-turned-Democrat Arlen Specter defeated in the Pennsylvania Democratic primary, Arkansas Democratic Senator Blanche Lincoln forced into a run-off, and a hand-picked GOP candidate beaten by Tea Party favored candidate Rand Paul in Kentucky — may indicate an anti-incumbent mood in the country. But political science Professor Graham Wilson cautions that the Specter loss proves no national trend and the Democrats also saved the late John Murtha’s House seat in Pennsylvania where the Republicans seemed favored.

“However, Paul’s victory does show that within the Republican party the tea party movement is a real force, one that might result in the GOP being encumbered with far right conservative candidates in the November elections. It’s like the reverse image of the McGovernites taking over the Democratic Party in the 1970s.”

Contact Graham Wilson, 617-353-2540, gkwilson@bu.edu

Mass. gov’s race heating up

Dick Taffe — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 13:04:15 +0000

In what may be a signal he could challenge Governor Duval Patrick next year as an independent, Massachusetts state Treasurer Tim Cahill plans to quit the Democratic party this week. College of Communication Professor Fred Bayles, a former USA Today and AP reporter who directs BU’s State House journalism program, can offer insight into the emerging governor’s race.

Contact Fred Bayles, 617-353-7736, fbayles@bu.edu

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Senate primary lessons

Mass. gov’s race heating up