( - promoted by Paul "Cool Cal" Ferro)
The following is a true story: When Bill Delahunt launched his campaign for Congress in 1996 he suggested to his campaign staff that he purchase a full page spread in the Cape Cod Times to introduce himself. He was advised against it and choose an even worse strategy: he rented a small Chatham house and lounged through the summer months on a light schedule, low lighted by an appearance at the Brewster Beer Run.
Bill's thinking: "Hey, I’ll rent a house, fly the flag, no worries, Quincy is going to win me this race. Gerry and his DC staff are with me. What, me worry? Anyways, how could these little towns cause me any trouble?"
Meanwhile Phil Johnston, staked out the far left of the party, and gathered a dedicated band of diehard supporters, what many would now call: moonbats. These moonbats, lead by Dick Bigos of the Community Action Committee, played upon Delahunt's hubris and knocked him off in the primary, with the help of strong results on Cape Cod. The result was overturned at the last moment, by a friendly judge, in a hanging chad recount, four years before Bush/Gore: Delahunt the winner.
What does this mean for the 10th CD race in 2010?
1)Bill Delahunt learned a hard political lesson not to underestimate the margins that can be run up in these small Cape and Island towns, it would be foolish to believe he'd make the same mistake twice.
2) At 68, fourteen years after his lazy hazy summer, does Delahunt have the stamina to compete with the likes of Jeff Perry or Bob Hedlund? He's never been in this because he is a true believer, like Studds. There is no there, there.
3) Republican primary candidates would be wise to observe and learn from the 1996 example [See Gerry Studds elections for additional proof]. The Cape has it's own regional identity which far surpasses that of say, the South Shore, and in some instances can contribute to margins in excess of 75% for the preferred Cape candidate. The identity is supported by a separate media market (daily newspaper and talk radio), whoever can pitch themselves best, as the true Cape Cod candidate, can have a distinct advantage in the upcoming Republican primary.
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