01-18-2010, 11:23 PM
Dennis S wrote:
I haven't been paying attention to the race. How did Coakley end up as the candidate?
My guess is mostly name recognition on the primary ballot. There was a fairly short period of time to campaign for the primary from the time Ted Kennedy died and the dates for the special primary and election were set. Coakley at least had statewide name recognition from her days as Middlesex County ADA and DA, and from her recent run and win of the State Attorney General office. The other Democratic candidates in the primary did not have as much statewide recognition. Turnout for the primary was also not that heavy.