U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton’s Democratic Senate marketing campaign is on a shaky basis – based mostly on nothing greater than incumbent 79-year-old Ed Markey’s age and a superficial, opportunistic want to maneuver up the ladder in Congress.
If Moulton had been an employer, he’d be introduced up on age discrimination fees based mostly on his video announcement that Markey is simply too previous to be reelected.
The 46-year-old Moulton in truth freely admits he has only a few if any coverage variations with fellow liberal Democrat Markey, a lot the identical means Josh Kraft tried and didn’t articulate any variations with fellow liberal Michelle Wu.
Moulton’s received nothing to run on however a wholly superficial, ageist conclusion that Markey shall be 86 on the finish of his subsequent time period. There isn’t a compelling motive to throw Markey out of the Senate.
“Is he too old?” the by no means digital camera shy Moulton instructed the media in one among many interviews on Wednesday. “Look, every political consultant will tell me not to say this, but the honest truth is, yes.”
If Markey is simply too previous, meaning Bernie Sanders is eligible for a Smithsonian exhibit.
Markey was additionally fairly previous when he demolished Joe Kennedy III in a Democratic main – humiliating the nice Kennedy title and catapulting younger Joe K3 to political exile.
Markey has a dorky enchantment which confirmed up within the Kennedy race, the sort that prompts voters to say “good for him.”
The truth that previous Ed stood his floor in opposition to Kennedy was surprising. All of the political prognosticators anticipated him to roll over.
Moulton doesn’t have the Kennedy title. The one factor he has is his time as a CNN commentator. If the race was based mostly on community air time, Moulton could be a shoo-in.
However on the problems, like immigration, Moulton can’t out-Trump Markey or out-left him. Markey is securely within the far left, Trump hating lane.
So there’s actually no room for Moulton, who’s seen extra of an opportunist by Massachusetts political gamers.
Voters largely don’t care how previous a candidate is except, like Joe Biden, they present some form of cognitive or bodily decline. And senior voters truly forged ballots.
Massachusetts voters over 65 years previous have a greater than 70% turnout fee – a lot increased than youthful voters. So Moulton is making an attempt to persuade a largely older demographic that Markey’s age disqualifies him from serving. Dangerous technique.
And in case you’re going to name for change from the “status quo” as an argument to unseat Markey, what’s the change Moulton represents? The North Shore Democrat has been within the Home for ten years, so he’s the established order.
He’s making an attempt to painting himself as a candidate for change, with out saying what the change would seem like.
With Moulton now in, may there be others within the coming months? The race appears ripe for one more candidate or two to leap in.
It’s arduous to imagine Democratic regulars are going to let Moulton problem Markey one-on-one.
Michelle Wu, a mayor of a serious metropolis, and a girl of colour, could be a a lot stronger candidate in opposition to Markey than Moulton.
She could be sensible sufficient to give you distinctions on the problems, not simply age.
