Boston - Obama Draws Crowd of 4,000 in Cambridge – LA Times Offers Scathing Review of Obama on the Campaign Trail

The Boston Globe, reporting on Obama’s recent visit to aid embattled Massachusetts Governor, Deval Patrick, spoke of the “large” crowd of 4,000 that was filled with enthusiastic young people (the President spoke at MIT), also noting that there were a few protestors in the mix, among them, anti-war protestors. (You Tube Video of the President's Motorcade and Protestors below tell a different story, with very few supporters lining the street, and perhaps an under reported number of protestors doing the same) The Globe’s pool reporter, Matt Visor, covered the Presidential visit, citing the fundraiser and the fact that it would generate approximately $600,0000 to the Patrick Campaign, as well as Tim Murray (Lieutenant Governor) and the Massachusetts Democrat Party.

One has to understand that the President was in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in one of the bluest States, where a Presidential visit would draw crowds from both the University and elsewhere. The University alone has approximately 10,000 graduate and undergraduate students (Source MIT), therefore, it appears that the majority of the “crowd of 4,000” was local to Cambridge.

This begs the question – is the party over?

Apparently, this has been occurring elsewhere, and is now referred to as ”Obama Hangover” by those very incumbents who the President is attempting to “help”. The main point of his visits to the various states has been fundraising, but to what end? The race that may be the easiest for him to “aid” would be New Jersey, where incumbent Corzine, comes the closest (poll wise) to staying in his job, although he has dismal approval ratings. His trips to Massachusetts, Connecticut and specifically Virginia, may be, for all intents and purposes, a lost cause, as Virginia appears to be lost and with New Jersey, the outcome will be settled in two weeks, Massachusetts and Connecticut, although elections are in 2010, may be an even harder sell, with Chris Dodd and Deval Patrick facing extremely tough campaigns with very uncertain outcomes. The lack of independent crowds lining the streets to welcome the President to their specific state is what may be most telling – outside of the fundraisers and the on-campus visit, there appears to be little to no interest in the President – with the exception of media coverage.

The Los Angeles Times converge of Obama hitting the campaign trail, entitled “Hello, Boston! Obama stumps for troubled pal, Gov. Deval Patrick, then on to help troubled Chris Dodd” is a scathing review of the President on the campaign trail, going into the fact that fundraising is primary, and that he is bringing in less than stellar results, along with a question as to “how much is this costing the taxpayer?” Interesting to see the growing critics coming from, for all intents and purposes, “mainstream media”, but more so the lack of enthusiasm in general for a sitting President perceived as being such a “rock star”. It is the “American Idol Syndrome” that allows for Andy Warhol’s, 15 minutes of fame, that may why those pesky “masses” aren’t appearing in droves when the President in any given state for a “Drive By”, the rest of the populace has been steadily losing patience, as his approval ratings are under 50%, a far cry from the robust 65% he enjoyed on his inauguration day, only ten months ago. This tells us that the President, as head of his political party, has lost the all-important and growing Independent (or Unenrolled) voter who will, in all likelihood, decide the races in New Jersey, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Virginia.

"Crowd in Boston for Obama's Motorcade"


Protestors in Boston

Obama Heads to Boston Fundraiser for Embattled Gov. Patrick. Patrick Touts Obama Use of Bankrupt Mass. As Model For National Health Care Reform

Obama and Patrick on the Campaign Trail - "Yes We Can"

Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrickannounced that President Obama will be in Massachusetts on the 23rd of October for a fundraiser to help move “the agenda” forward. The video (below) by Governor Patrick touts that Massachusetts has been the model for the Obama administration in decisions on universal health care.

Patrick, faces an uphill battle for re-election: A recent Suffolk University Poll gives the Governor a slight lead over three challengers, Timothy Cahill, Democrat running as an Independent, and Charles Baker and Christy Mihos, two Republican’s who will face off in a primary. What is not revealed is Patrick’s overall approval rating, which is at 29% and the fact that a huge percentage (26% plus) did not weigh in on any challengers. That said, the Suffolk Poll shows Mihos with an advantage over both Baker and Cahill. Additionally, a Rasmussen Poll, taken in late August, gives Mihos the advantage over the Governor as well both Baker and Cahill. In that poll, Patrick fares slightly better with a 39% approval rating.

What is surprising is that Patrick is singing the praises of the Massachusetts Health Care Model in the first place. Although initially put into place by then Governor, Republican, Mitt Romney; once Romney was on the Presidential Trail in 2008, the original model was stuffed with mandates, taxes and fees, that have continued to drive up the cost of health care premiums for those holding on to private plans in the Bay State An additional 7 to 12% increase is projected in 2010 – which have risen approximately 40% since Commonwealth Care’s inception. Not surprisingly, with such a high cost to the Commonwealth, Massachusetts is about to ration and/or limit choices for individuals as regards their health care options
.
Now, Insurance companies nationwide are weighing in on the debate on Capitol Hill, letting those that would move to a Massachusetts Model, that premiums are guaranteed to rise. The data is already in place, a working model in the form of Massachusetts’ Universal Health Care, which, as Deval Patrick has been kind enough to point out to everyone who will listen: is the model being used by the Obama Administration for proposed health care reform.

Surely there is a better model out there, such as opening up the industry to competition in order to lower premiums. This is something Patrick is also acquainted with – Massachusetts recently opened up auto insurance to competition with the result – a drop of approximately 7.7% premiums for insured’s the first year it was in place (rates are still regulated by the state, but Patrick plans, at some time, to allow insurers to set their own rates).

One additional point to be made: Should the President’s stumping (or fundraising) for Patrick fail to see his Chicago cohort reelected in 2010, in a State that is the model for the Obama administration’s policies (according to Patrick), (and at this point, all polls (including the Suffolk – one must look at the marginal’s to get the true picture in that poll – have Patrick out regardless of opposition; although Mihos has the lead across the board) one will not require a crystal ball to see that 2012 will herald total change in the House, the Senate and the White House.