John Kerry – Not protecting his Bay State Seat - Is he Obama’s Choice?

John Kerry (D-MA) should be taking his bid for re-election a bit more seriously – given that he is faced with worrisome polls (Suffolk University Poll), a stronger than anticipated primary challenger (Ed O’Reilly) and a stronger GOP Opposition Candidate (Jeff Beatty). Additionally, the Bay States Newspapers normally Kerry committed editorial slant is taking a turn - in the opposite direction. Even the Boston Globe has questioned why John Kerry does not have the time to debate his Primary Challenger. In an article entitled “Kerry is Debatable”,
the Globe asks why Kerry has time to debate for Barrack Obama, yet, does not take the time out at home – noting: “the people of Massachusetts deserve a debate before the Sept. 16 primary.”

Perhaps it is arrogance, or perhaps Kerry has managed to obtain a position elsewhere. With the V.P. rumor mill churning, Huffington Post contributors weigh in on why Kerry would be the best choice for Obama as a running mate. - they make a compelling case – include the fact that Kerry’s deep ties to Obama are undisputable.

Today, or tomorrow, Obama will reveal his choice as running mate – if it is not John Kerry, will he then turn his attention to his own seat, or will he continue to stump for his chosen candidate? It appears the junior senator basks in the national spotlight; chances are his constituents will be treated to a barrage of advertising and mailboxes stuffed with re-elect Kerry literature – with a stop or two in each district hobnobbing with local Democrat politicos. Time is running out (Primary set for September 16), however, and although there is a Kerry Campaign ad, they aren’t playing statewide – what is showing up are banners for both Ed O’Reilly and Jeff Beatty, both of whom are receiving state press on an almost daily basis.

Therefore the questions remain, is Kerry the V.P. choice that will be announced today, or tomorrow by Obama? Or is he so arrogantly confident that he will retain his seat he isn’t bothering to protect it. The Massachusetts primary will be telling, as polls can, admittedly be deceiving due to small samples and the general make-up of the state. That said - given the electorate makeup: 30+% Democrat, 12+% Republican and 51+% Unenrolled – should half the Unenrolleds vote in the primary for O’Reilly, (assuming half will take a Democrat ballot), and 23% (or the percentage of votes that O’Reilly received in the primary) of Democrats vote the same way, Kerry won’t have to worry about dodging debates in the Bay State.