These fears of returning to a Dukakis-like era of large state debt and fiscal irresponsibility, coupled with troubling indications of an economic stumble, forced voters to think twice about bucking the status quo.

While Harshbarger's Democratic predecessor was a burden to the attorney general, Cellucci was heir to a more desirable political heritage.

Many Bay State residents attribute the state's economic turn-around in the 1990s to Weld, whom Cellucci worked with as lieutenant governor for two terms.

"When [Weld and Cellucci] took over in 1991, Massachusetts was one of the worst states in the nation," said Bob Scott, a long-time Cellucci supporter.

"Education in my town has become so much better," said Jessica A. Burdick, a North Adams fourth-grade teacher. "In the Dukakis years, I had 29 kids in my class; now I have 19."

Pundits say that all this mud slinging may have contributed to yesterday's low voter turnout by promoting a disappointing image of both candidates.

While election turnout was expected to be low without a Senate or presidential race, it nearly broke records.

"The voters are sending a message to some degree, but voter turnout wasn't as low as expected," Bus said.

And it seemed that was just enough to remove the "Acting" from Cellucci's title, giving him the opportunity to step out of Weld's shadow and take Massachusetts into the next century