DEPARTMENT OF P OLITICAL S CIENCE ~ T UFTS U NIVERSITY

NEWS AND E VENTS

VOLUME II, I SSUE II SPECIAL E DITION ~ W INTER 2009-2010

MASSACHUSETTS S ENATE S PECIAL E LECTION

It was during this time incident from 2004 and On January 19, 2010 that De- called this move unfair. there will be a United mocrats developed a Thus, the Massachusetts States Senate Special plan to keep John Kerry’s Senate Special Election Election held for the seat senate seat in the De- will be held on January left behind by the late mocrat’s hands by block- 19th. The elected sena- U.S. Senator Edward ing Governor Mitt Rom- tor will fill the seat for the Martha Coakley “Ted” Kennedy, who ney’s ability to name an remaining of the term passed away on August interim replacement if ending on January 3, MA State Attorney General 25, 2009 of brain cancer. Kerry were to win the 2013. presidential election. Al- On December 8, 2009 a According to The Chris- though MA law gave au- party primary election tian Science Monitor, thority to the governor to determined Massachu- January 7, 2010, Martha make such an appoint- setts State Attorney Gen- Coakley pledged her ment, Democrats eral Martha Coakley the support for Health Care changed legislation winner for the Democ- Reform. “Priority No. 1 which insured Kerry’s ratic Party, Massachu- (will be) to pass and im- seat would be left vacant setts State Senator Scott plement healthcare re- for two months or more Brown the winner for the form,” she promised. The until a special election Republican Party, and Christian Science Moni- was held. As we know, Joseph L. Kennedy (no tor states, “...Brown has Senator Kerry was de- relation to the late Sena- embraced an unorthodox feated by 34 electoral tor ) for the approach: steering to the votes and President Independent Party. right in an effort to woo George W. Bush went on MA State Senator conservative voters.” This open seat has cre- to a second term. ated some controversy Also in the article our as the Democrats hoped Fast forward to present own Professor Jeffrey LINKED WITH THIS ISSUE Governor day: the Democrats are Berry refers to Brown, would be able to appoint currently working dili- “His strategy is to excite an interim State Senator gently to insure their the Republican base— PROFILE to complete the remain- Health Care Reform Bill and he’s done that. MARTHA C OAKLEY der of the late Senator is passed and they will That’s not the platform Ted Kennedy’s term. The need every vote. To po- for winning the Senate tentially avoid having a race, but it’s great juicy Republicans, on the PROFILE other hand, remembered Republican replace Ken- red meat that he’s tossed SCOTT B ROWN a similar controversy in nedy’s seat, last August out there.” the Democrats pushed 2004 when John Kerry Although Massachusetts for Governor Patrick to PROFILE was running for Presi- is considered a Blue appoint an interim sena- JOSEPH L. K ENNEDY dent and Mitt Romney State, several recent was Governor for the tor. However, the Repub- state of Massachusetts. licans recalled the similar Continued page 2

A S PECIAL T HANK Y OU

DEPARTMENT OF P OLITICAL S CIENCE Sean Lenehan is a freshman at Bryant University who interned for the ~ T UFTS U NIVERSITY Department of Political Science in the Communications Department during winter break 2009-2010. The Department of Political Science 4 The Green Packard Hall and their Communications Office would like to thank Sean for putting Medford, Massachusetts 02155 together this article and the profiles of the Massachusetts Senate Special Election Candidates.

Phone: 617-627-3465 Fax: 617-627-3660 TUFTS I N WASHINGTON http://ase.tufts.edu/polisci/ We have recently made some changes to the application process for the Tufts in Washington Program. Professor Eichenberg will host and information session late January - early February to pro- I F Y O U W O UL D L I KE T O CONTRIBUTE vide information on the program. Also, to insure that your applica- T O OU R N EWSLETTER PLEASE CONTACT T HE C OMMINCATIONS tion is formally processed please visit our website to view the C OORDINATIOR I N T HE D EPARTMENT changes at http://ase.tufts.edu/polsci/civic/DC.htm. For imme- O F P OLITICAL S CIENCE . F ACULT Y A N D STUDENTS A RE ENCOURAGED T O diate questions regarding the Tufts in Washington Program see SHA RE T HE I R STORIES A ND TH E I R Professor Eichenberg during the office hours listed on the website. IDEAS .

MASSACHUSETTS S ENATE S PECIAL E LECTION CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

polls are showing the election may be closer than expected. Reports say a low-voter-turnout may play in Senator Brown’s favor. Also, while Candidate Kennedy’s chances of winning are slim (one poll shows him with 3% of the votes) he may have a large impact on a close race. His background as a Libertarian could potentially take votes from Senator Brown. The Department of Political Science has put out this Special Edition of our Newsletter to give you an opportunity to view a comprehensive profile of the candidates. The article and the separate link for the profiles were developed with the help of several publications which include: 12/17/09 Mass live.com, Martha Coakley, Scott Brown, Joseph Kennedy agree to series of debates in race for Ted Kennedy’s Senate Seat ; 1/7/10 The Christian Science Monitor, Kennedy endorsement comes at key time for Martha Coakley; 1/4/10 .com, Republican gets McCain’s nod; rival adds to her list; 12/9/09 The Sun, Lowell, MA, Coakley vs. Brown ; 12/29/09 Boston Magazine, Running Scared: Martha Coakley ; www.brownforsenate.com; Wikipedia.org; www.marthacoakley.com. No matter your party or your home state, Tuesday’s election between these candidates will have national implica- tions and will prove to be very interesting. Stay tuned.

By: Sean Lenehan Communications Intern Department of Political Science