A Pre-Gingrich Revolution

In 1990, Republicans Gov. William F. Weld '66, Lt. Gov. A. Paul Cellucci and state Treasurer Joseph D. Malone '78, swept the top three state positions from Democrats.

"The state of Massachusetts had our revolt four years ago, in some respects this cleansing is something we went through in 1990 with the governor," says Paul Watanabe, professor of political science at UMass-Boston.

And in 1992, two Republicans, U.S. Reps. Peter I. Blute of the state's third district and Peter G. Torkildsen of the state's sixth district, ended the Democratic monopoly on the state's 10 member congressional delegation.

"Two years ago, the Democrats had a monopoly on our congressional delegation and the Republicans took over two seats, and that was in itself a Revolution," Wolf says.

But even with these recent Republicans successes on the state level, observers say the GOP must still overcome many obstacles if it is to permanently establish itself on the state's political scene.

"The Democratic Party is stronger here and the identification that people have with the Democratic Party is stronger here than it is in other places," says William B. Vernon, executive director of the Massachusetts State Republican Party.

"Republicans here have a higher mountain to climb in terms of voter registration and we also have a higher cultural hill to get over. For many years, it was culturally unacceptable to be a Republican in Massachusetts," Vernon adds. "I kept the fact that I was a Republican under wraps...I mean if I was at some social function in Cambridge, I would not say I was a Republican."

Although Vernon was happy with Weld's convincing win over Democratic State Rep. Mark Roosevelt '78 in November, he laments the fact that there is "no spokesman for the Republican Party here on national issues."

"There is nobody here on a regular basis who has a sufficient voice that can be heard...someone who can illustrate the differences that the Republican Party has with President Clinton," Vernon says. "You get that voice from a U.S. Senator and we have not had one here for twenty years."

Senate Race '96

Next year, Vernon and the state's Republican Party will get another shot at electing a Republican candidate to the U.S. Senate in the race against the Bay State's junior senator, John F. Kerrey.

"Kerrey is a strong candidate and he may have an easier time than Kennedy,because the voters here will see that Newt andCompany are just business as usual," Sohn said.

He added though, "No race is a throw-away andwe will be in there fighting."

But Wolf and other observers say they are notas confident as Sohn seems to be about Kerrey'schances next year.

"Senator Kerrey will put together a good race,but he does not have the emotional appeal thatSenator Kennedy has," Wolf said.