Did the Progressive Base have a candidate in MA during the Special Primaries?

[FrenchieCat]

And if so, who was it, and why didn't that candidate win? :shrug:

[JI7]

1. kick

[angee_is_mad]

2. kick

wondering also.

[Metric System]

3. Mike Capuano?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Capuano

[JI7]

4. he only got 28 percent of the vote , why didn't the base come out to vote for him

in greater numbers ?

[frazzled]

5. It was Capuano

I think he lost for a number of reasons: Coakley had support in Western Mass, where she is from, and the eastern Dems (Boston) got lazy and didn't turn out. She raised a lot of money very quickly, especially from women's groups and Emily's List. That looked like an impressive thing to do. Who knew she would peak and then crash and burn? She got a boost from a late endorsement from Bill Clinton. She had name recognition from having been AG for a long time.

[JI7]

7. so the base got lazy and didn't turn out for Capuano but they came out to vote for Brown

to "send a message" ?

[Cha]

9. A little confusing, isn't it?

This will be a very interesting two years in Mass.

[Ildem09]

10. the southies voted for Brown

the working class Reagen Democrats

[frazzled]

15. Who is the "base"?

That is always a mystery to me. Everyone seems to think the progressive left is the base. It would be great if they were. But if you know Massachusetts politics, you would realize that the vast majority of blue-collar Democrats who actually oppose abortion, have voted in referenda to cap income taxes, etc. are a large part of the "base" of the Democratic Party there.

[JI7]

18. based on some on DU the base are those who decided to vote Brown

to send a message and teach Obama a lesson.

[FrenchieCat]

20. I thought only the Base came out for primaries.....

You'd think they would have gotten their pick.

[treestar]

23. Got lazy

I'm starting to wonder how badly progressives want anything. They are good at keyboarding on DU but don't seem to really have much fire, and give up easily.

[Ildem09]

6. because establishment wins

oft times progressives run on the outside and getting them in the Senate is a rare thing. look at Feingold and Franken, and Wellstone. all were longshot candidates. who did not have the full backing of the party

[FrenchieCat]

8. So I'm trying to figure out how we can get anywhere,

if the people vote for the wrong candidates all of the time?

How do we change that?

[Ildem09]

12. you have to keep the pressure up

Dean was an insurgent how did some great things. we have to start local. recruit progressives to the state parties. then to state offices then to congress, then to the national. run for precinct committee person. or run for the CentCom in your state

[FrenchieCat]

14. True......

why aren't we doing that?

[Ildem09]

16. things arent bad enough yet

people only get really involved when it all goes sideways

[angee_is_mad]

17. start out local

city councils, then state legislatures, then congress and senate.

That is called grooming and helping to build up a base of support.

[Ildem09]

19. gotta focus on the party too

[Iggo]

11. The base is progressive?

I thought it was socialist?

[Ildem09]

13. all socialists are progressive. but not all progressives are socialist

[andym]

21. Coakley is fairly progressive according to the NYT article

see this post
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x7503450

[grahamhgreen]

22. Because the party refuses to support us.

[FrenchieCat]

25. To a great degree, you are supposed to beat the party by running a progressive candidate......

in a primary...because that is exactly who the opponent is....and in fact, that's the entire point in replacing those that the progressive base don't think are progressive enough, with those who are.

If you can't even beat your own party, by getting voters who are more knowledgable with the issues (because that is who comes out to vote during primaries) to vote for the most progressive candidate, how can you believe that you can beat the opposition? :shrug:

[secondwind]

24. we were hoping Capuano would win the runoff.....apparently, he "had her" (Coakley) at one point, but

he didn't capitalize on that. Am trying to figure out what that means.

Capuano would have beat Brown by 10 points, says Lawrence O'Donnell. And others say the same.



SHEESH.