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 need to maneuver up the ladder in Congress.
If Moulton have been an employer, he’d be introduced up on age discrimination expenses 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 bought nothing to run on however a completely 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 previous?” the by no means digital camera shy Moulton instructed the media in certainly one of many interviews on Wednesday. “Look, each political guide will inform me to not say this, however the trustworthy fact is, sure.”
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 major – 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 towards 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 can 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 type of cognitive or bodily decline. And senior voters truly solid ballots.
Massachusetts voters over 65 years previous have a greater than 70% turnout charge – a lot increased than youthful voters. So Moulton is attempting to persuade a largely older demographic that Markey’s age disqualifies him from serving. Dangerous technique.
And for those who’re going to name for change from the “establishment” 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 attempting to painting himself as a candidate for change, with out saying what the change would appear like.
With Moulton now in, might there be others within the coming months? The race appears ripe for one more candidate or two to leap in.
It’s arduous to consider Democratic regulars are going to let Moulton problem Markey one-on-one.
Michelle Wu, a mayor of a serious metropolis, and a girl of coloration, can be a a lot stronger candidate towards Markey than Moulton.
She can be good sufficient to provide you with distinctions on the problems, not simply age.
