Lawyer’s sticker campaign puts Coakley in a new battle

[No Elephants]

Source: Boston Globe


Lawyer’s sticker campaign puts Coakley in a new battle
James McKenna got more than 10,000 votes as a write-in candidate.

By Stephanie Ebbert and Frank Phillips
Globe Staff / September 17, 2010

<snip>

"Secretary of State William F. Galvin confirmed yesterday that James P. McKenna, 49, a write-in candidate from Central Massachusetts received more than 10,000 votes in Tuesday’s primary, enabling him to qualify for a spot on the ballot in the general election. The Millbury lawyer is only the second politician since the 1970s to vault onto the ballot as a statewide write-in candidate.


It was Coakley’s performance in the Senate race that led McKenna, who most recently was chief legal counsel to the GOP nominee for auditor, to run against her.

<snip>

Convinced she had no opposition, Coakley agreed to a campaign spending cap that would award her campaign anywhere from $55,000 to $75,000 in public financing. But she will also be limited to spending $625,000. At the same time, she could become the target of negative ads, as a regulator, prosecutor, and, since January, a political lightning rod. The danger is even more acute since a US Supreme Court ruling gave corporations the right to spend directly on campaigns.

McKenna’s political experience is limited to appearances at two state conventions as a delegate and his work on behalf of two candidates. He was, until recently, legal counsel and convention organizer for Mary Z. Connaughton, the GOP nominee for state auditor. A married father of six, McKenna has raised just over $2,000, while Coakley, who has been doing relatively little fund-raising, has nearly $500,000 on hand in her state campaign account


Read more: http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2010/09/17/lawyers_sticker_campaign_puts_coakley_in_a_new_battle/

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Whatever her shortcomings as a candidate for Kennedy's seat, Coakley’s been an excellent AG. I hope she trounces this clown.

Wish she had not agreed to that campaign spending cap, but she has name recognition on her side.

[old mark]

1. I hope she actually bothers to campaign for this one...I was just amazed

at her lack of concern in the Senate race...


mark

[Ian David]

2. She said she heard the message about her last campaign and promises to get off her ass this time. nt

[Historic NY]

3. She better start shaking hands over by Fenway.

[hughee99]

7. If she's going to spend some time at Fenway, she better do a little research first.

There's really nothing that pisses the locals off more than pretending to be a fan and lacking ANY knowledge of the sport or team.

[bluestateguy]

4. Nobody should ever stick their neck out for this incompetent nitwit

Let her lose.

[activa8tr]

5. She's hardly a "nitwit", and it is largely because of her competence as

an Attorney General, prosecuting some controversial cases, (Louise Woodward and Fells Acres daycare comes to mind) that she became unpopular with many voters.

One thing Massachusetts does NOT need is a Republican A G, who will essentially be a "do-nothing" when it comes to regulating and litigation dealing with unfair business practices, gay rights, etc.

[Psephos]

8. Are you seriously be arguing that the Fells Acres/Amirault prosecution was commendable??

My god.

Salem witch trial, 1980s version. Innocent people wrecked forever.

[activa8tr]

11. I didn't say it was "commendable", no. I said she got a bad rep

with that one.

[Arkana]

6. Absolutely not under any circumstances.

Her failings as a Senate candidate are obvious but she's probably the hardest-working individual in state government right now.

[No Elephants]

10. +1

[No Elephants]

9. Why? She's been a good AG.