As candidate John Kerry's Senate seat in Massachusetts special election to fill their first televised debate Wednesday night to head - head, will want to maintain their reputation they have developed in the early weeks of the campaign the minds of voters rigid.
For Rep. stiff, slightly awkward 18 Long-term Congressman Edward Markey, it would mean that he is not just a stock character Massachusetts Democrat party is expected to sweep to power large-scale demographic advantage victory. Instead, he will try to prove to voters that he hoped this seat, and perhaps more importantly, he has earned it.
On the other hand, the Republican Gabriel Gomez, a charming businessman and former Navy SEAL, but the political novice, our goal is to make himself look Senate: an informed, articulate, ready to fight.
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There is a greater challenge. They will have to do it all, in a sunny June evening - almost vegetarian in Massachusetts political season - with the Red Sox and bears only one channel flip away from home games.
In fact, the two candidates will spend tonight, not only for their candidate in the case, but the importance of the elections themselves, 斯宾塞金博尔 said campaign adviser, Department of Communication Emerson College in Boston to teach.
"People are confused about what the problem is, it works in the Markey's favor, because you do not have a lot of Democrats want to quit," he said. "However, this argument provides the opportunity to Gomez, he is a viable candidate to make the case of independent voters if they want to know more, they should continue to adjust in."
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Attached to the independent voters has been the main strategy, so far, Mr. Gomes, he has spent the early days of the game pounding the pavement across the state, racking up tens of diners, factories and small businesses visited.
This makes him more visible, but it also reveals his political inexperience. For example, NPR interview two weeks ago, he mentioned that Congressman Markey "pond scum" negative advertising.
Markey, meanwhile, has been running a quiet campaign. Shuttling back and forth between the duties in Washington and Congress, election in Massachusetts, Democrats veteran most concentrated energy of his election fund-raising and community leaders and private meetings.
Last week, he brought the first lady Michelle Obama's status as a colorful lunch fundraiser, an increase of more than $ 700,000, his coffers, but also in Massachusetts and singer Carole King next to Senator Elizabeth Warren (D) events. President Obama next week in Boston, run for Congress.
"He does not want to stir up a hornet's nest independent, said:" Ray LA Raja, the University of Massachusetts at Amherst political scientist. "He does not want to put yourself in a position where he could open his mouth, to Gomez's unforced errors."
These different strategies easily attack has left open the debate in the run two campaigns.
In a new television ad Tuesday, Markey blasted Gomez tried to spin himself as "a new kind of Republican," this blue state, arguing he had been deliberately opaque about his position as Social Security, hot issue of gun control and reproductive rights.
In fact, since the first day, Gomez has staggered along the thin line between showing his respect for the national GOP and painted himself as a moderate external beltway who is not dependent on a narrow partisan interests. This means that the old maverick campaign with Senator John McCain (R) Arizona one day, while accepting Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R) of Kentucky under the fundraising efforts.
Meanwhile, he hopes to show voters Markey in Washington for 36 years has left him out of touch with the country's needs. Campaign complained that lawmakers spent most of his time living in his house in the DC suburb of Chevy Chase, Maryland ad Wednesday show Markey stammered answered a reporter's question, why he is so low taxes.
Polls have been put in the game Markey, June 2 New England College survey, gave him 12 points advantage. However, despite the Democratic Party leadership, the Cook Political Report last week announced that it moved its prediction game from "leaning Democrat" and "toss", because of the special election turnout fluctuations.
NEC latest polls show that economic issues likely voters, the unemployment rate, the federal deficit, and hold their attention as the three most tax looms large.
These are the questions Gomez can come out swinging.
"He would think, said:" go after Markey, really let him professor of the University of Massachusetts in the defensive La Raja. "He will not have much time left in this election - at this moment began to take some risks."
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