Happy New Year

I must admit I have always been fascinated with politics and as a student of political cleavage I found the results of a recent poll on the Brown vs Coakley special election for Ted Kennedy's US Senate seat absolutely fascinating. Why? Well let's just say in a state where Democratic voters outnumber Republicans by a 3-1 majority recent polls now show Brown with a 4 percent lead.

In the race for U.S. Senate, who will you vote for?
Scott Brown: 50%
Martha Coakley: 46%
Joseph L. Kennedy: 3%
Undecided: 1%
In your opinion, who won the debates?
Scott Brown: 41%
Martha Coakley: 25%

Joseph L. Kennedy: 2%

Undecided: 31%

As a U.S. Senator, do you think Martha Coakley will be an independent voice or tow the Democratic Party line?
Independent voice: 24%
Tow the party line: 64%
Undecided: 11%
Do you support the proposed national near universal healthcare law?
Yes: 36%
No: 51%
Undecided: 13%
Can the federal government afford the proposed national healthcare law?
Yes: 32%
No: 61%
Undecided: 7%
What is the most important issue facing our next U.S. Senator?
Healthcare: 38%
Economy/Jobs: 44%
Taxes: 1%
War: 5%
Education: 0%
Spending/Budget: 3%
National Security/Terrorism: 1%
Other: 4%
Don’t know: 4%

Less anyone think of me as a Fox News robot check out what CBS has to say on the matter.
When 64% of the voters think you will toe the pary line and 61% think he nation cannot afford the proposed legislation you still have a problem even with a 3-1 party advantage. That Ted Kennedy's staffers essentially composed the legislation is poetic justice.