New poll shows Markey with wide lead over Kennedy in Massachusetts

[left-of-center2012]

Source: The Hill

Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) leads primary challenger Rep. Joe Kennedy III (D-Mass.) by double digits, according to a UMass/Amherst poll released Wednesday.

Markey leads Kennedy among Democratic and Democratic-leaning voters 51 percent to 36 percent in the poll, with 12 percent undecided. When Democratic-leaning voters are removed from the sample, Markey expands his lead to 50 percent to 32 percent, but the percentage of undecideds also increases to 17 percent.

Asked which candidate they trusted to handle nine issues, respondents named Markey for all but one. A plurality of voters trusted him most to handle the economy, health care, taxes, education, climate change, President Trump, transportation and the coronavirus pandemic. Race relations are the only issue where Kennedy leads, 39 percent to 37 percent.

The primary is set for Sept. 1. Markey, unlike many Democratic incumbents facing primaries, has been endorsed by several progressive figures such as Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D), Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and actress and activist Jane Fonda.

Read more: https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/511752-new-poll-shows-markey-with-wide-lead-over-kennedy-in-massachusetts

[bucolic_frolic]

1. I think this is

age, wisdom, and experience over all else. Voters know we need the adults in the room right now. Joe Kennedy III will get his turn, surely.

[hlthe2b]

2. I like Kennedy, but I really wish he hadn't run like this.

Granted I've not followed it closely, but I never "got" why Markey needed to be 'primaried.'

[RhodeIslandOne]

7. He's old

Literally. That's the argument.

Oh, and not a Kennedy.

Look, young Joe is one district over, I like him. But he's like his cousin Patrick (who was my rep at one time) and is always looking to the next thing and when he loses he's gonna leave politics and make money.

[Drunken Irishman]

10. I don't see where Kennedy goes from here if he loses.

He's giving up his congressional seat.

Maybe a run for governor down the road? But he just torpedoed his political future.

[Thekaspervote]

12. +1000

[madaboutharry]

3. I find this challenge very disappointing.

Sen. Markey is a fine man and a fine Senator and there was no reason for this primary challenge other than the entitlement and privilege of Rep. Kennedy. It rubs me the wrong way and I think less of Rep. Kennedy for it. That may seem harsh, but I am sure I am not alone in this opinion.

[Totally Tunsie]

11. I think a lot of people feel the same way.

Kennedy needs to wait his turn.

[BlueStater]

14. "Wait your turn" sounds pretty entitled to me.

Markey doesn’t own the seat, he only occupies it. If Kennedy wants to run for it, he has every right to do so.

I don’t blame Kennedy for not wanting to wait until Markey retires. That could be another 12 years from now. Markey is 74 at the moment, which isn’t all that old for a senator. Where do people get this idea that he won’t run again in 2026?

[Totally Tunsie]

15. Why send proven talent to the waste bin when MA

can extend their wealth? Let Markey stay in place for now, continuing to do a great job, and then Kennedy can pick up from there. No need to clip Markey's wings just yet. Why should Democratic talent attack each other? Kennedy should still have a lot of years ahead of him to maintain the Kennedy legacy.

At least "Wait his turn" implies there is a future for him. Nothing "entitled" about it.

Anyway, my opinion is just that. I don't have a dog in this fight since I don't live in MA. YMMV.

[StevieM]

19. I hope Markey wins but I do agree that he is probably going to run for re-election in 2026.

And then he will probably run again in 2032.

I don't think Kennedy needed to "wait his turn," but I also didn't see much of a point to this primary.

[Polybius]

26. I don't think he can help it, it's in his bloodline

The Kennedy's have a rich history of challenging sitting Democrats in primaries.

[Tracer]

29. Madaboutharry - you are NOT alone in your opinion.

What you said in your post is exactly how I feel.

[jorgevlorgan]

4. Hell yeah

Kennedy should have kept his seat in the House. The Senate will come another time for him.

[DownriverDem]

5. Never understood this race

Why are there some in the Dem Party who insist on eating their own?

[Indykatie]

6. I Hope Kennedy Loses- The Run Against Markey Was Selfish and Ill Advised

[sheshe2]

8. He has my vote!

I love Markey. He has done a good job for MA. There was no need for Joe to primary him. Other than age and a name there is no difference between the two.

Joe had my vote as my Rep and threw it away. Now he lost his seat.

[George II]

9. If Markey wins the primary, can Kennedy still run for the House?

[RhodeIslandOne]

17. There are congressional primaries the same day for his current seat

So no.

[oldsoftie]

13. Good. nt

[JenniferJuniper]

16. Very good,

I'd certainly vote for Kennedy against any Republican, but he's just wrong doing this.

[brooklynite]

18. How much cash has been burned up in this meaningless Primary?

[RhodeIslandOne]

20. I missed the debate Tuesday night. This is devastating.

Link to tweet

?s=21

[mahina]

24. What a little snot.

I liked him fine before he went after Markey. Ugh.

[StevieM]

21. He had a very negative reaction to the Boston Globe endorsement of Markey.

As I said at the time, I think his reaction to the endorsement is much more damaging than the endorsement itself.

[oasis]

22. Markey has done nothing worth losing his job over. A reliable Democrat.

The voters of MA know his worth.

[mahina]

25. I feel the same Oasis.

🤙🏼🤙🏼🌸

[oasis]

28. Loyalty is still a virtue. Markey gets high marks from me.

Aloha mahina

[mahina]

23. Thank God.

[krawhitham]

27. Damn he was down by 16 in May. 31 point wing in 3 1/2 months

https://emersonpolling.reportablenews.com/pr/massachusetts-2020-kennedy-leading-markey-by-16-points-in-us-senate-race

[JI7]

30. He started coming off badly in interviews. Sounded entitled and Markey came off well

Markey is one of those that is low key mostly but he works hard and is good on the issues. He has a good record. We need people like that in office.

[JI7]

31. Kennedy seemed to think he should be Senator just because he is a Kennedy

And if he had just waited until Markey or Warren retired or left for something else he would have been the easy favorite for that seat. But now people's opinions of him have changed and I think someone else like Ayanna Pressley or someone else could have a better chance at winning that seat.

Plus Kennedy will no longer be in congress which makes it even tougher to run for higher office.