American Civilization

A special election will be held this coming Tuesday in Massachusetts to elect the replacement for the seat Ted Kennedy held in the U.S. Senate. Kennedy was a member of the Democratic Party, and, given the state’s long Democratic tradition, it would should have been a shoe-in for the candidate from the Democratic Party.  NOT!

The Democratic nominee, Martha Coakley, finds herself in a dead heat against the Republic nominee, Scott Brown.

So, what’s happened in Massachusetts?

Was the Democratic Party leadership so sure of themselves, that they may lose the election due to complacency?
Is the dead heat an indication of the problems that other Democratic candidates may fact in a Democratic backlash?

This particular Senate seat – #60 – would provide the Democratics in the Senate the number necessary to pass legislation.  Without  the retention of this seat, much of Obama’s agenda may be in jeopardy.   Some indication of the 2010 political direction will be much clearer after Tuesday.  Stay tuned!