Looking at yesterday's Rasmussen poll, Jamie Kirchick made a bold prediction:
An interesting snippet from today's Rasmussen poll is that Barack Obama leads John McCain by only 49% to 42% in Massachusetts, the bluest of blue states. McCain also has a (slightly) higher approval rating than Obama. I've said it before and I'll say it again: with a moderate Republican nominee and Barack Obama as the Democratic candidate, there's an even chance that Massachusetts will go red.
I'm not sure I actually believe it, but as I watched the local news up here in Boston last night, it struck me that this was not an impossible scenario. The Pastor Disaster is getting all kinds of play, and in this particular segment from Channel 7 (see above), they even trot out the 'God Damn America' portion of Rev. Wright's sermons as seen in the now infamous video that got McCain staffer Soren Dayton suspended from the campaign. Hillary Clinton couldn't have produced a more favorable segment. The report is bracketed by the passport story, but that just doesn't have the entertainment value of the Pastor Disaster. Anyone who thinks contract employees looking into Obama's files is going to rally Democrats should think again. If this type of coverage keeps up for long, I'm inclined to think that a McCain win in Massachusetts is, if highly unlikely, at least within the realm of the possible. One other thing that augurs poorly for Obama in the Bay State is his co-branding with Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick. Patrick's reign has featured one pratfall after another. His latest humiliation occurred just yesterday when the legislature overwhelmingly rejected what had pathetically become Patrick's signature issue--bringing state-sponsored casino gambling to Massachusetts. In his short time as Massachusetts' regent, Patrick has practically redefined ineffectiveness. And this in a state where Michael Dukakis remains a fresh memory! Obama's close association with Patrick could do him some serious harm as Patrick's approval ratings continue their inexorable march to George W. Bush levels. Update: Geraghty notes a new poll from Survey USA showing McCain and Obama tied in Massachusetts.