In a race that Democrats need to win in 2006, seems like 30-something Secretary of State Matt Brown is hot. Brown is the upstart Democratic candidate battling the more experienced Sheldon Whitehouse for the Democratic nomination in the Rhode Island Senate race.
(more below)
There are two new polls that show Brown as the one with the momentum in both the primary and the general. First a poll by Benenson Strategy Group (supposedly a Dem pollster) that shows Brown ahead of Whitehouse 38% to 36% in the Democratic primary. This is significant because Whitehouse previously was thought to be a lock for the Democratic nomination:
http://www.pawtuckettimes.com/...
Second, a brand new Brown University (nonpartisan) poll that shows Brown within 2% of Lincoln Chafee:
http://www.insidepolitics.org/...
Chafee leads Brown 38% to 36%, while Chafee leads Whitehouse 40% to 34% Both Democratic candidates lead Steve Laffey by at least 15%. Clearly, Matt Brown has made up huge ground in the Senate race and is someone to keep an eye on. Whitehouse has a heavy financial advantage, but Brown may be the one with the grassroots support.
In 2006, northeast Democrats need to focus on the following Senate races:
- replacing Lincoln Chafee with Matt Brown or Sheldon Whitehouse (either would make a fine Senator)
- replacing Joe Lieberman with Ned Lamont
- replacing Jim Jeffords with Bernie Sanders (should be no sweat in Vermont)
The 2008 strategy will consist of:
- capturing Susan Collins' Senate seat in Maine (Tom Allen would be a shoo-in if Collins keeps her promise to retire)
- knocking off first-termer John Sununu in NH (Gov. John Lynch is the man for the job)
In such a polarized country, it is important we elect solid Democrats in the "blue" northeast. We need to solidify this part of the country, and this begins in the 2006 Rhode Island Senate race.
Update: I looked at the Brown University poll again, and they have also have Matt Brown leading Sheldon Whitehouse in the primary (31% to 25%).