[Clintonfatigued]

This is very surprising news. I never expected this race to be competitive.

If an upset actually occurs, perhaps John Kerry could be vulnerable next year.

[RWR8189]

Any relation to Paul Tsongas?

In any case, I can’t imagine a Republican could win this Taxachussetts district.

[ClearCase_guy]

“Make no mistake, this election will be a referendum on the presidency of George Bush,” Tsongas told her supporters on primary night.

Right after the primary, a local radio show interviewed Ogonowski and Tsongas (separately). One question basically went, "There's a lot of national attention on this race, what do you think about that?"

Paraphrasing:

Ogonowski: "I'm running to be the representative of this district. I'm waging a grass roots campaign, going door to door, asking people what they care about. And people care about their taxes, they care about property values. They want good jobs, they're worried about national security. I'm running for office because I think I can help make this district a better place for these people."

Tsongas: "It's all about Bush. He's a disgrace. People all across this country want him out. He lied about the war, people are dying, and we just need to put a Democrat in the White House so that things like national health care can be made available to everyone."

Sigh. Not too surprising which candidate will catch fire in MA.

[DallasJ7]

I’m not shocked by the margin, as it is one of the least Democratic districts in Mass, although it is still a Kerry district.

While I would be elated if we won, as with New Jersey, I think this is one of those teaser deals where I wouldn’t really get my hopes up too much.

[Gay State Conservative]

I don’t believe this for a minute.After RAT Party Headquarters gets finished showering Tsongas with Chinese campaign cash Ogonowski will be lucky to get 33% of the vote.

[DBrow]

The name Oganowski sounds familiar, I heard it within the last few days.

Tsongas I’ve heard of because of her husband.

A pubbie getting elected in MA, in Meehan’s district? And they are calling a ten point lead “close”, like the media wants pubbies to throw money at the race perhaps to drain the coffers for ‘08.

[LibFreeOrDie]

The widow Tsongas is “the daughter of an Air Force colonel stationed at the Pentagon.”

http://www.redorbit.com/news/business/806641/he_left_a_legacy_in_lowell_like_no_other_just/index.html

[andy58-in-nh]

The scary thing is that the 5th District is perhaps the most "conservative" district left in Massachusetts, which of course is not saying much. However, given the flight of ex-Mass. Republicans to New Hampshire during the past ten years or so, combined with an increase in the (ahem) "non-native born" population in Lowell and Lawrence, any remaining Republicans don't really stand a chance.

The same thing happened in the 6th district (mostly Essex county on the north shore). There used to be lots of Republicans there, but many have fled since the early 1990s. That's a key reason why Massachusetts is now so utterly "blue" - conservative-minded souls have given up and fled.