Not everyone is lining up behind the prohibitive favorite for the GOP nomination for Congress in the newly minted 21st District. A letter writer to the Times says the local Tea Party group is not in lockstep behind Matt Doheny although the groups chairman is holding a fundraiser for the Watertown businessman thought to be the likely winner of the June 26 primary.
There is a rival faction backing or at least considering upstart candidate Kellie Greene.
No one knows what to expect out of this primary. Mr. Doheny has been travelling the district relentlessly, focusing on the three new counties added to the eastern end of the sprawling land mass.
For their part, Team Doheny is playing down the expectation game arguing a showing in the 40s by Greene would not be significant and that a 60-40 win would be huge. Besides they say only seven or eight percent of the party registrants will likely vote since the primary is for the first time in decades not being held in September and there is no media hype or advertising being done in the run up.
Observers (and there are few of them) would chatter that a Greene showing north of 30% would be an indication of softness in party support for Doheny, which would make a party line win November more difficult. Numbers in the 40s would prompt head scratching.
This race is not about reaching across the aisle. It's about whipping up what's left of the true believers in Republicanism. The registration advantage does not guarantee a win, as we know. It's about turning out the faithful and that's what a primary can demonstrate.
Ironically, Ms. Greene cannot win in November anyway, since Mr. Doheny already has the two minor party lines. Without uniting the Indy and Conservative line with the GOP line, no one can beat Rep. Bill Owens. That's not being mean, just being honest.
Watertown Daily Times | No endorsements from the Tea Party
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