I always love good political theater

[jducoeur]

Oooh -- that was a *good* nomination-acceptance speech. Positive and upbeat, but leaving no question that the gauntlet is cast, and staying relentlessly on-message. The man's got real skill on the stump...

Comments

[siderea]

Aya. I'd give him a 4.5 out of 5. Needs not to trip over his own tongue, and there was one subtle problem with the content of his acceptance which I don't feel like bringing to anyone's attention. Other than that, that was great.

He's one class act, you know? He could beat Healey on that alone.

[jducoeur]

Actually, I think that's *primarily* what he's going to win on. The issues are complex, and they cut both ways. For example, for all that he's more correct on the tax point, her low-tax message is much *simpler*, which will resonate with a lot of people. And when he starts expanding on his message about social justice, she's going to make hay by pointing out every possible downside.

But I suspect that what will push him over the top is simply the fact that his message is fundamentally positive, where hers (so far) is fundamentally negative. If that distinction persists (and she's going to do everything in her power to force him to go negative), then I think he's likely to win on the basis that people are just plain going to *like* him more...

[hungrytiger]

Charisma is the primary stat required for a politician character. IQ is a secondary stat, just mildly more important than Constitution/Health. That's part of why Romney won last time and why Patrick should be able to beat Healey.

One interesting point to this, an analysis I read said that most of the big issues that the Democratic candidates were arguing about (taxes, education reform, etc.) aren't things that the Governor decides. Those are decided by the Legislature (see gay marriage being approved on Romney's watch). What that means to me, is that a very charismatic Governor who brings a lot of new voters with him might be able to enact changes that someone else might not.