Mike Boudo
Officially, Martha Coakley has been running for the U.S. Senate for just six weeks... But that's long enough for me to see the beginning of a bad campaign.
In fact, I'd be surprised if Coakley is more popular today than she was when she got into the race.
She may be the front-runner, but she's no sure thing. Still, she's acting like she is.
The best example is the flap over her finances, which she brought on herself. Calling questions about her spending "baseless" won't make them go away.
And neither will claiming she's not allowed to talk about the campaign when she attends events as the Attorney General.
If that were the case, she might never have to talk about any issue, which is as silly as it sounds.
But Coakley acts as if she wouldn't mind that at all...as if answering questions are somehow improper...especially if the question challenges her judgment or expertise. In short, she acts like a lawyer who is an incumbent.
Which she is in the AG's office, but not in the Senate. Not yet, anyway.
I see the money Coakley has raised, and I see the endorsements she's won, and they're impressive.
But here's what matters more: passion and vision...and, so far in this campaign, I haven't seen either of those from her.
I know Martha Coakley. She has a sense of humor and she's lively. But for whatever reason, she's transformed herself into a stiff for this campaign.
It may be enough to get her elected, but if it isn't--Martha Coakley will spend the rest of her life wondering why she didn't run as herself.
I'm Andy Hiller, and that's my instinct.
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