Perhaps, in this age of post-modern politics, a television advertisement says it all.

"You'll be my fighter," an enthusiastic supporter of environmentalist John O'Connor says to him.

"I'll be your fighter," the candidate replies, affirms half-heartedly.

That, in a nut-shell, is exactly the problem plaguing the 10 Democrats running to replace Rep. Joseph P. Kennedy II as the U.S. representative from Massachusetts' eighth congressional district.

With four of the candidates in a dead heat according to a poll taken last week, there's no telling who will prevail tomorrow.

But whoever becomes the Democratic nominee will probably win the general election, and will almost certainly end up on a Republican-occupied Capitol Hill fighting the establishment, not establishing policy.

Meet the Best

The candidates themselves are diverse in every way, except ideologically.

But that's no surprise in a district which, according to the Almanac of American Politics, gave Ronald Reagan his lowest vote percentages in the country.

Much has been made of this: candidates fighting for the prize of uber-liberal.

George Bachrach, 45, a former state representative from Watertown, went so far as to call himself "unreconstructed," putting him squarely at odds with the Democratic caucus in Congress he seeks to join.

But not all the candidates fit the progressive bill. A handful, including front-runner Michael E. Capuano, the mayor of Somerville, support a strong, national defense. Others support charter schools and vouchers. One candidate has called health maintenance organizations the "future" of efficient and effective health care.

And Raymond L. Flynn, the former ambassador to the Vatican and mayor of Boston, is pro-life.

Top Dogs

Flynn is neck and neck with Capuano, according to the latest Boston Globe tracking poll.

Both have years of experience in local government. Both tout a record of cautious economic liberalism.

Both possess, writes Globe reporter David Warsh, "unmistakable star quality; each is a person you're glad to be around."

But both have spotty records on such key issues as education and crime. Flynn struggles vainly to recapture the sound bite-style politics that made the eighth's predecessors--James Michael Curley, John F. Kennedy '40, Thomas P. "Tip" O'Neill and Joseph P. Kennedy II--endearing to the voters.

Capuano is quick with a joke and a detailed anecdote.

But Flynn has always been pro-life. Capuano is pro-choice. Flynn's name is known district-wide. Capuano has struggled to distinguish himself amongst the other candidates.

Many presume Flynn's stature will carry the day with undecided voters. But more and more, voters seem to be listening to Capuano's eager voice from the north.

Identity Crisis

Conservative observers of the race have dismissed its eclectic array of voters andoffice-seekers, as a triumph of identity oversubstance.

But polls taken among the area's black,Hispanic, homosexual and Asian voters showcleavages that cut across ethnicity and identity.

Case in point: The race's only openly gaycandidate, former State Representative Susan M.Tracey, failed to garner the endorsement of theGay and Lesbian Political Alliance ofMassachusetts, and was the target of a damningshrug-off by the major gay newspapers. Instead,they endorsed former radio personality, MarjorieO'Neill Clapprood.

"Give us a straight-shooting pro-gay advocateover a gun-shy homosexual," wrote Bay Windowseditor Jeffrey Epperly in the newspaper'sendorsement.

Flynn campaign manager Charlie Burke hopesvoters will act similarly with his candidate andput aside the issue of abortion.

"Ray Flynn has a proven track record," he said."People may disagree with him on one thing, butthey agree with him on many others."

James J. Rafferty, a Cambridge lawyer and along-time political observer, believespre-election polls tend to undercut Flynn'ssupport, as some voters may not want to admit tosupporting the former mayor before the primary.

"Flynn remains the front-runner, [even with] astealth campaign," Rafferty said.

Education

The Massachusetts unemployment rate is thelowest in decades, and crime is going down.

But many voters believe Boston's system ofpublic education is also heading downward. Sincehalf of Boston is part of the eighth, it's nosurprise that children--and how theylearn--dominated the final candidate debate lastThursday in Boston's WGBH studios.

All of the candidates stressed their experiencewith--and ideas about--B-7EIGHT