In the Democratic stronghold that is Massachusetts, is it the Republican candidate for governor who is gaining momentum?
A recent Boston Globe poll shows that Charlie Baker is gaining momentum in Massachusetts' race for governor. The poll shows Democratic frontrunner Martha Coakley beating Republican Baker 40 percent to 35 percent. Coakley is still ahead, but that's a four point jump for Baker in just one week.
So is it for real?
"I think it is for real, with the reality that it is summer and people aren't really focused on the general election, let alone the primary election in September," said Peter Ubertaccio, the director of the Martin Institute at Stonehill College.
It is summertime, and the governor's race isn't top of mind for many voters right now. Martha Coakley still leads the democratic pack, and Baker is the likely republican nominee. Ubertaccio believes the race will grow even closer in the weeks ahead.
"We really haven't been barraged with advertising or direct mail or any of those kind of traditional markers or an active campaign, those things will start to pick up. When they do we'll probably see some changes," he said.
The Boston Globe poll also found concerns about the direction of the state, and that voters are not optimistic, even though unemployment is down and salaries are growing. That perception could be a major factor.
"The governor has been in office for eight years. It's typically a time people want to reassess who sits in the corner office and what party is in control, and I suspect that the close poll numbers are as a result of that more than anything else," Ubertaccio said.
And could ballot questions sway the vote, or affect turnout?
This fall, the questions are on repealing the state's casino gambling law, repealing the automatic gas tax increases, expanding the bottle bill and mandatory earned sick time.
