Retirement sets stage for a showdown

November 29, 2011|By Brian C. Mooney, Globe Staff

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In the southern end of the district, state Representative James Vallee, Democrat of Franklin, one of the new towns in the fourth, said he will take a serious look at the race. “I have to do my due diligence,’’ he said.

John Walsh, chairman of the Massachusetts Democratic Party, said the new fourth was “marginally better for the Republicans.’’

“The truth of the matter is that in a presidential election year, the more action there is in a district, if we can harness it as a team, it really helps us,’’ said Walsh, who led the effort to build the party’s infrastructure to identify and reach so-called “sporadic-voting Democrats.’’

Some districts may now be more Republican-friendly, but longtime Democratic strategist Mary Anne Marsh said the overriding factor is the fact that it is a presidential year. That, combined with a hot race for US Senate, will lead to a surge in turnout. With the state considered a lock for President Obama, it will help Democrats, she said.

“Where, in other parts of the country, Democrats will have the wind in their faces, in Massachusetts in 2012, Democrats will have the wind at their backs,’’ Marsh said.

Brian C. Mooney can be reached at bmooney@globe.com.