Warren’s negatives too heavy

[cali]

Dianne Williamson

I told a friend last week that I thought Elizabeth Warren — smart, attractive and appealing — was in trouble. My friend agreed.

<snip>

When Warren announced her bid for Ted Kennedy’s old Senate seat, jubilant supporters believed that Brown’s days were numbered. The popular Harvard Law professor was a nationally-known Wall Street foe who boasted strong credentials as a champion of the middle class. In her first six weeks, she raised $3 million. By the end of December, she’d raised $5.7 million, close to double the dough raised by the incumbent.

<snip>

I’m guessing the reaction might be different if Warren’s script was delivered by Brown, or any good-looking male candidate. We tend to be hard on our female politicians, and even harder on older ones. With her sensible glasses, neatly-cropped hair and cardigans, she’s often referred to as “granny,” even though, at 62, she happens to be quite attractive. But women politicians can’t make mistakes. They can’t be too shrill, too assertive, or too ignorant of the machinations of the Boston Red Sox.

None of it is fair, but it makes no difference. This is politics, where likeability is gold and superficiality reigns. The more laundry Scott Brown folds for his beautiful family, the more women swoon.

http://www.telegram.com/article/20120916/COLUMN01/109169735

Even though Warren and Brown are tied in recent polls, she trails significantly among independents. I know it's heresy, but I think Brown will take this one. Hope I'm wrong.

<snip>

The latest public poll had Warren down by only a point, but recent surveys show her trailing by double digits among critical independent voters. And Brown, a rare Republican in Congress who bucks his party at times, is peeling away as many as one in five Democrats.

<snip>

Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0912/81247.html#ixzz26dL2rIHd

[MadHound]

1. It isn't her looks, it isn't her demeanor,

It is the fact that Mass. seems to be going center right. First, Brown is elected to Kennedy's seat, now, twenty percent of Dems are going to vote for Warren. That's horrible party discipline.

Sounds like the Democratic power and wealth elite would rather entrust their fortunes to a Republican rather than Warren. Sad.

[B Calm]

5. Sounds like twenty percent of Mass. Dems

are dumber than fence posts if they really plan to vote for a republican over a democrat.

They'll be writing a book soon named "What's The Matter With Massachusetts?"

[DonViejo]

44. The columnist is incorrect

Tim Vercellotti, professor of political science and director of the Polling Institute at Western New England University, said Warren's lead comes in part from the fact that she's shored up support among Democrats to 89 percent, while losing only six percent of her party's support to Brown.

http://www.masslive.com/politics/index.ssf/2012/09/poll_elizabeth_warren_pulls_ah.html

[Pakid]

2. There is a poll out today

showing Warren with a nice lead

[cali]

3. that's excellent news. could you post a link to the poll?

[joeybee12]

8. I think it's this one...

Poll: Elizabeth Warren opens 6-point edge on Scott Brown in Massachusetts Senate race

http://www.masslive.com/politics/index.ssf/2012/09/poll_elizabeth_warren_pulls_ah.html

[cali]

11. It has a 4.6 margin of error rate among likely voters. 4.2 among registered.

I'm cautiously optimistic about that poll, but that's about it.

[joeybee12]

12. If, as the "experts" say, this will be a base election...

I think Warren's base is far more enthusiastic about her than Brown's is about him...that should help.

[RBInMaine]

14. What do you do, sit and sew your own white flags? Stop worrying and start CAMPAIGNING !

[cali]

18. I call 'em as I see them.

and I'm campaigning for local candidates at the state level.

[tularetom]

27. Yup, it could be a 10.6% lead

[ananda]

35. Yay! And I think she has a LOT of positives!

nt

[BeyondGeography]

4. Still early

Brown marches in lockstep with the Right, with precious few exceptions. She has seven weeks to tie him to the most useless major political party in American history. Not over by a long shot.

[mmonk]

6. This inspires me to make another donation.

I have been donating to her even though I'm not from Massachusetts.

[TheCowsCameHome]

7. There's something lacking in her style

I can't quite put my finger on it. She seems to lack warmth or friendliness, and I think that's hurting her campaign. Scott Brown has certainly overblown his folksy image, but I think Elizabeth Warren could use more of it in her ads and public engagements.

She's a very smart and capable woman, but I think some potential voters see her as chilly or unfriendly.

Something in her campaign needs a little tweaking. Just my .02

[ladjf]

16. I totally disagree with your assessment of Ms. Warren's lack of warmth and friendliness.

However, my opinions about her might not be in the majority.

[Fla Dem]

21. I agree with you.

Although I have not seen her campaign in person, any video I have seen of her has left me liking her. I have seen her show warmth, concern, intellect and passion. She would be so good for my home state of Massachsetts.

[TheCowsCameHome]

33. Please don't misunderstand me -

I think she's great, I will absolutely vote for her, but maybe she needs a little image refreshing, i.e. more ads with her family members present, perhaps in a warmer background setting.

My OP wasn't meant to be a knock on her, I just want to see her chances of winning over voters continue to improve betweeen now and Nov. 6th.

[ladjf]

34. Rest easy. I understood your statement about her personality as a bit of constructive

criticism and I recognized that your observations of her may well be in the majority mainstream. I just chimed in my take on her personality for what it might have be worth.

A poll today showed her ahead by several points. She would be a great Senator for Mass.

[TheCowsCameHome]

36. I was happy to see that poll, too

but we can't let up for a minute. Brown must go.

[randome]

23. You're hardly the only one who noticed.

Someone previously mentioned an 'X-factor' that is difficult to pin down. Something about her doesn't quite connect, which is why I think she's having a difficult time pulling ahead.

[Honeycombe8]

24. I agree with you about something about her demeanor. She's inexperienced as a politician...

and while she's doing an amazing job for being inexperienced, her inexperience shows. Her policies are good. But there's something I can't quite put my finger on, either. It might be her weak voice? There's a perception among a lot of people of modern Democrats being weak, so Democrats need to counter that, in some instances. But I'm not sure what it is. It may not be her voice. It's something a little uncomfortable about her.

But maybe it's like another poster says, that Mass. is going center right.

[Cerridwen]

9. "1 in 5 Democracts" won't vote for the girl because

she's not all "sugar and spice and everything nice"? Surely that's not correct that there are Democrats out there who still vote based on outdated gender norms.

[kentuck]

10. Elizabeth has a problem with the Democrats that voted for Brown the last time.

It's human nature to vote for a person a second time if you have voted for them before, unless there is a scandal or damaging information about that person. Brown does not have that problem.

The voters of Massachusetts are smart Democrats. They understand politics as well as any state in the union. However, they need to be reminded of the importance of the Party over the individual in this race. The Senate is vital for the Democrats to keep. Brown may be a likeable enough candidate but we simply cannot afford to vote for him this time around. The voters of Massachusetts need to look at the bigger picture.

Democrats should not be bashful at reminding them of this fact.

[RBInMaine]

13. Please stop your negativity. Enough of the pre-mature handwringing and white-flagging.

Is there come kind of liberal virus that induces political handwringing, worrying, and surrenduring? Christ, the election is six weeks away, she's ahead in this recent poll, and here you are ready to throw in the towel. Let me clue you in on this race.

* Yes, Brown is likeable and an incumbent who has been willing to crossover on SOME votes, which are strengths. That is why he has been able to do well with MA indies and get some male D crossovers.

* People have had to get to know Warren. That is always a climb. True.

* It is true that as a political newcomer, Warren botched the Indian heritage thing. That hurt her just as folks were getting to know her. She needed to hold a presser and answer that question clearly and decisively. It has taken time to recover from that.

NOW, here is the rest of the story. MANY people are just now starting to pay attention in ALL the races across the country including in MA. She did very well at a successful convention. MA is a BLUE state. In 2010, MA Dems learned the lesson of losing Teddy's seat in that special election, and they came out with one of the best statewide campaigns in the nation that year, a MODEL for the nation, and SWEPT the state. Yes, they need to up Warren's positives, but they also need to drive up Brown's negatives. They need to tarnish the image of the "nice homeboy who drives a truck" by focusing VERY HEAVILY on how Brown voted LOCKSTEP WITH THE REPUKES on issue on top of issue on top issue. They have been doing this to an extent for awhile, but now they need to go FULL FORCE. They need to show him standing there begging contributions from David Koch, which is video that they have. They also continue need to continue link Brown to the UNPOPULAR NATIONAL REPUBLICANS IN GENERAL and stressing how DEMS NEED TO CONTROL THE SENATE.

They need to keep saying, "JUST BECAUSE SCOTT BROWN CAST A FEW GOOD VOTES, MOST OF HIS VOTES WERE IN LOCKSTEP WITH THE REPUBLICAN MAJORITY. HE IS A FAIR WEATHER MODERATE." You say it over, and over, and over again. They also need to continue to target INDEPENDENT and REPUBLICAN WOMEN with Warren's strengths on women's issues. THAT is where you get the crossovers needed to defeat Brown as well as holding a strong advantage with Dems even though he gets some Dem men.

Finally, in the end, the economy continues to be the number one issue. YOU LINK BROWN TO THE REPUBLICAN FAILED TRICKLE DOWN ECONOMIC THEORY WHICH DOESN'T WORK AND HAS NEVER WORKED. You hammer and hammer and hammer on this. You then, in a good campaign, also tell people "HERE IS WHAT YOU WILL GET FROM ME: a better jobs plan based on investment and cooperation and not trickledown, someone who will support President Obama on the economy, healthcare, strong Wall St. regulations, maintained middle class tax cuts, the rich paying their fair share, election reform, and women's rights." You then contrast that CLEARLY with Brown's REPUBLICAN vision and positions. You CONSTANTLY call him a REPUBLICAN. She also needs to continue to tell her personal story which is very compelling. He calls her "professor" to make he sound elitist and aloof. She needs to call him a REPUBLICAN and part of the FAILED REPUBLICAN AGENDA in the congress.

She needs a powerful debate performance that is well planned and to say, "HE MAY DRIVE A PICKUP TRUCK, BUT I AM THE ONE AND MY PARTY IS THE ONE THAT MADE SURE WE KEEP BUILDING THOSE PICKUP TRUCKS HERE IN THE UNITED STATES. I AM THE ONE WHO IS GOING TO FIGHT FOR THOSE TRUCK MAKERS. I AM THE ONE WHO IS GOING TO FIGHT FOR THE FOLKS WHO MAKE THE TRUCK PARTS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY. I AM THE ONE WHO IS GOING TO FIGHT FOR THE MIDDLE CLASS FOLKS WHO SELL THE TRUCKS AND FIX THE TRUCKS RIGHT HERE IN MASSACHUSETTS. THAT IS WHAT I AND THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY ARE COMMITTED TO DOING. THE REPUBLICANS WERE READY TO LET DETROIT GO BANKRUPT. THAT IS THE DIFFERENCE IN THIS ELECTION. AND THAT IS CHOICE YOU HAVE. I WILL FIGHT ENDLESSLY FOR THE MIDDLE CLASS AND EVERYONE TRYING TO GET INTO IT, AND I REJECT THE FAILED REPUBLICAN TRICKLE DOWN ECONOMIC THEORY THAT HAS NEVER WORKED AND WILL NOT WORK AND THAT'S WHY I AM RUNNING FOR THE UNITED STATES SENATE. THANK YOU."

[B Calm]

15. For a poster with a high

post count, you'd think some of the posts would be less negative. . . just sayn

[Fla Dem]

25. +1000

[Honeycombe8]

26. Posting a post discussing facts isn't being negative, IMO. It engages discussion...

such as your response (sans your negativity toward others who are looking at facts). Rah rah is a good thing, but at some point, serious discussion is a good thing, too.

[obamanut2012]

29. +1

[Auntie Bush]

38. +100,000 Great well thought out, intelligent and well written post. Thanks!

[Gman]

17. Things are starting to gel across the country

And not in the GOP's favor. I'm getting that feeling as I talk to people, watch Facebook posts, and watch polls. I think she'll win by 5 or 6.

People aren't in love with Dems, but the GOP scares the hell out of them.

[1-Old-Man]

20. Yeah, right, read more at Politico to learn more about the qualities of Democrats - gimmme a break

What a load of unhappy horseshit.
"the more laundry Scott Brown folds for his beautiful family, the more women swoon"
Who comes up with nonsense like that and why is it republished on this web site. This site is supposed to support Democrats, not reissued filth designed to tear them down.

[LaydeeBug]

22. Thank you for your *concern*

breathless and desperate concern.

[JNelson6563]

28. Fatalist Cali posts reich-wing crap to

bolster own views. What a shock.

Julie

[obamanut2012]

30. Politico thinks Warren will lose?

What a surprise.

[ProSense]

31. Poll: Elizabeth Warren opens 6-point edge on Scott Brown in Massachusetts Senate race

Poll: Elizabeth Warren opens 6-point edge on Scott Brown in Massachusetts Senate race
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021354781

[bigdarryl]

32. Personally I though one of they younger Kennedy's should have ran for that seat

But it seem the younger generation of Kennedy's aren't interested in politics

[AC_Mem]

37. DNC should help out here

Help with ads, help with prepping her for the campaign, she has never run! Also, are the Kennedy's endorsing her? There are things that can be done so she isn't trying to win this with no upper level assistance I would think....

[treestar]

41. Great idea about the Kennedys

They should loudly endorse her.

[JNelson6563]

43. They could at least give her valuable airtime at DNC!

Oh wait....

From what I hear the national Dems *are* on the ground and helping in many ways.

Of course my source is a person there, in the trenches of this effort. Not nearly as reliable as Politi-ho.

Julie

[brush]

39. Wrong

She's up by 6 points. What's up with this post?

[treestar]

40. I wouldn't give up here, because all of that is superficial

Hammer on the issues. And other Senators are not grandmotherly looking. Or, why would that have to be bad? Senators should look older. That's in the very base of the word Senator, which is for older and wiser (sen, the stem for the word senior).

[chelsea0011]

42. Obama is polling far ahead of Rmoney and if Obama's voters come out

it can only help Warren. Brown is running a "what, me a republican?" kind of race. If Warren can hang the he will vote with republicans most the time tag on him, he will lose.