The Road to November

Unity will be important for Democrats, who have been locked out of the corner office for the past 12 years and face an uphill battle to regain the keys.

Mitt Romney’s handsome appearance, Olympic fame and seemingly bottomless warchest—fueled by strong fundraising and the candidate’s considerable personal fortune—will present significant hurdles to O’Brien come November.

For both candidates, victory lies in capturing the center—the state’s large body of independent and politically moderate voters.

Residents who are registered to vote but not enrolled in a party number almost two million, according to an October 2000 survey by state officials. They significantly outnumber the total number of registered voters in either the Democratic or Republican party.

O’Brien and Romney must both create a moderate platform that appeals to the centrist vote, while at the same time maintaining an ideological commitment to their respective party’s base of support.

And as of last night that battle has already begun.

In her victory speech, O’Brien took aim at her November opponent and crafted moderate stance.

“My friends this election offers the people of Massachusetts a clear choice,” she said, “a choice between someone who is masquerading as a moderate...and a fiscally responsible Democrat who has always believed that government must be a catalyst to help all people help themselves.”

—Staff writer David S. Hirsch can be reached at hirsch@fas.harvard.edu.

—Staff writer Christopher M. Loomis can be reached at cloomis@fas.harvard.edu.