Well, sort of. The print edition of this column is still a ways off — it’ll probably debut in January — but there’s enough going on that I felt compelled to resurrect the column early as an online-only dealie.

Quick aside: this blog’s guts are a bit befouled at present, so trying to comment will lead only to frustration and heartbreak. If you feel the need to chew me out for anything, you can e-mail me at bailey at capenews dot net (sorry to spell it out, but man, the spambots have it out for me lately).

The development that really inspired my early return to whinging about politics is this week’s development with Alan Khazei, who on Wednesday dropped out of the US Senate race, citing an inability to raise money and gather support now that the Democratic Party has embraced Elizabeth Warren as its official horse in the race.

Alan. Dude. Has the Presidential race taught you nothing? A couple months ago, Rick Perry entered the Presidential race and everyone went “Michele who?” Now look at him! He’s running third in most polls behind Mitt Romney and Herman freakin’ Cain — and Herman is kind of crazy! Warren still has plenty of time to say or do something insane and give you a shot at overtaking her!

She’s already dipping her toe into that pool with a recent comment to The Daily Beast that she “created much of the intellectual foundation for what” Occupy Wall Street and its spinoffs are doing now. She’s since backtracked on that remark, so she’s obviously mastered the necessary campaigning skill of saying something rather outrageous and/or self-aggrandizing and then nimbly backpedaling when someone calls her on it.

But, to my intended original point: Khazei was the most promising candidate in the field beside Warren, who really needs someone to run her through the paces, if nothing else. There are four other Democrats that I know of who are still in the race — Tom Conroy, Marisa DeFranco, Jim King, and Herb Robinson — and I’m betting you haven’t heard of ANY of them.

And chances are you will continue to hear nothing about them, because the media, like the Democratic Party, is currently latched onto Warren, and now that Khazei — who had a degree of name recognition — is gone, it’s going to be All-Warren All The Time until after the September primary.

Anyone remember what happened the last time the Dems named an heir apparent to the Senate seat and left that candidate to cruise to an “easy victory”? The Democratic Party apparently doesn’t. Party leaders should have at the very least given Khazei enough support to keep him active through the primary so we the voters — remember us? We (ostensibly) choose elected officials — could see who the better candidate truly was.

***

Speaking of denying voters choice, it was also announced yesterday that longtime Congressman John Olver (D) is retiring, freeing up the race for the First Congressional District — and, perhaps more notably, giving the special joint legislative committee on redistricting every excuse in the world to let the First District take the big hit so the committee can, for the most part, maintain the existing boundaries for the other eight Congressional districts.

You see, when Massachusetts lost a district following the 2010 Census, there was a lot of concern that redrawing district lines would end up pitting two incumbent Democrats against one another in the primary race, and there was heavy speculation that the 10th Congressional District (which includes the Cape and Islands) would be eliminated and its towns folded into the Fourth or Ninth Districts — potentially setting up a contest between freshman Congressman William R. Keating and, respectively, Barney Frank or Stephen Lynch.

But now that Olver is out of the picture, the committee can carefully redraw the district boundaries to avoid any hot Dem-on-Dem action in September. Convenient, isnt it?

***

On a more local note: while there has not yet been an official announcement, there’s every indication that Republican Thomas F. Keyes is planning to challenge Senate President Therese M. Murray (D) in 2012. Keyes lost to Murray in 2010 in a surprisingly tight race: 52.5 percent of voters in the Plymouth and Barnstable District sided with the eight-term incumbent Murray, and 47.5 percent voted for Keyes, making this Murray’s tightest re-election race ever.

After the 2010 election, people on Keyes’ e-mail list (including me) continued to receive e-mails from the campaign, in which Keyes was referred to as the man “who is seriously considering” a rematch in 2012. The e-mails started out as stock rebuttals to everything Murray did (“Keyes Disappointed Murray Refuses To Create An Independent Commission On Redistricting” read one early notice), but soon turned into rally and fundraiser announcements. Once you start raising money, I think it’s safe to say you’re no longer merely “considering” running for office — especially when, according to a mid-year finance report filed with the Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance, you’ve raised a little over $11,000 over the first six months of 2011.

The question is not whether Keyes is running, the question is: can he effectively run against Murray on his own? Last year Keyes’ campaign ran concurrently to those of two strong candidates — State Representative Randy Hunt (R – Sandwich) and Jeffrey D. Perry, who ran unsuccessfully for Congress — and Keyes’ detractors insisted the only reason he made as good a showing as he did was because he hitched his faint star to two much brighter and, in Perry’s case, more high-profile wagons.

An upset victory is certainly not out of the question, but Murray’s undeniable clout has benefited the region for many years, and that’s going to be a hard thing for voters to give up in favor of a man with no clout, few connections in the State House, and little political experience beyond the town and county level.

***

Finally, we bid a fond farewell to State Representative Susan D. Williams Gifford (R – Wareham), whose Second Plymouth District has been shifted completely off Cape Cod due to the aforementioned redistricting. She represented three precincts in Bourne, which will now be divvied up between Hunt and State Representative David T. Vieira (R – Falmouth).

While the Cape delegation is losing one of its number, Gifford had a minimal presence on Cape Cod, so I expect her loss to be negligible. I very rarely saw her at any major event attended by the other members of the delegation, and I’ve on occasion heard some critical remarks about her non-attendance from a couple of her colleagues.

He has a few other things coming up on his calendar of events, but that could all be rendered moot next Saturday, which is the state Republican convention in Worcester. That will be a make-or-break moment for his foundering campaign, which has seen staffers jumping ship like they were on the S.S. Minnow and is as fiscally healthy as a five-year-old’s piggy bank (his mid-March financial filing with the state had his campaign account hovering just above the $4,000 mark).

The campaign took another blow last week when, according to the Boston Globe, Mihos missed a deadline to submit his $12,500 (!!!) convention fee because he tried to pay by personal credit card, which is a no-no. He barely made an extended deadline for his committee to deliver a check for the amount.

What does that fee cover, you might ask? Well, I have no idea of the mechanics/rationale, but it essentially guarantees that Mr. Mihos will receive a guaranteed 60 delegates toward the 300-plus he needs to secure a spot on the ballot. Yes, it doesn’t matter how many voters want him on the ballot; if he doesn’t get enough delegates at a party convention beyond the ones he paid for, he’s out of the race.

Isn’t the American political system great? By which I mean seriously screwed up. Captain Kirk made more sense describing a game of Fizzbin.

On one hand, simply for the sake of a healthy process I’d like to see Smilin’ Christy M. stay in the race, but on another level I can’t help but feel that removing Mihos from the mix at this stage would be a mercy killing.

***

By the way, Charles D. Baker Jr. this week picked up the endorsement of US Senator Scott P. Brown (R). In a robocall that went out to registered Massachusetts Republicans, Sen. Brown said Charlie Baker “will bring real change to Beacon Hill and work to restore fiscal sanity to Massachusetts government.”

I must wonder, however, if Sen. Brown’s endorsements carry as much weight as they once might have. Some of his supporters among the Tea Party faction and even the GOP are miffed at their Golden Boy for failing to overcome arcane parliamentary procedures and slay the mighty health care reform dragon.

(I’ve already ranted about that here.)

***

Lance W. Lambros, Democratic candidate for State Representative of the Fifth Barnstable District, is holding his campaign kick-off event tomorrow. The public is invited to swing by Holly Ridge Golf Club (121 Country Club Road in Sandwich) between 4 PM and 6 PM to meet Mr. Lambros and, if so inclined, make a campaign donation.

***

Another Republican state rep candidate, James F. Munafo Jr., who is running for the second Barnstable district, has launched his campaign website at http://jimmunafo.wordpress.com/

Candidates for public office, let this website serve as an example for you. It’s a prefab site set up through WordPress (which also powers this here blog), but it looks as good as some of the other campaign sites I’ve seen – better, in some cases.

***

Last call for “Pizza with Perry”! State Representative Jeffrey D. Perry (R – Sandwich), that is. The soon-to-be former state legislator and could-be US Representative of the 10th Congressional District is holding his next fundraiser at the Hyannis VFW post on Thursday, April 15 from 6 PM to 7:30 PM.

Rep. Perry, I should add, received an endorsement this week from former Lieutenant Governor Kerry M. Healey. “When Jeff called and told me he was running for Congress, I told him, ‘I don’t care who else is running, I’m with you’,” Ms. Healey said at a reception in Quincy. “Jeff Perry is a solid, strong legislator and I know he’ll work as hard for you in Congress as he has in the state legislature.”

***

Also on the 15th, look for Republican State Senate candidate Eric T. Steinhilber at the Cape Cod Tax Day Tea Party Rally at the Hyannis Rotary. That runs from 4 to 6 PM.

That’s right: there will be a big distraction at one of the town’s busiest intersections during rush hour. Doesn’t that make you want to just run out and hug the Tea Party folks…around the neck, until they pass out from lack of blood to the brain?

***

Daniel A. “Air” Wolf, Democratic candidate for State Senator of the Cape and Islands District, has named Stefanie Coxe as his new campaign manager. Ms. Coxe is formerly a legislative aide to State Representatives Demetrius J. Atsalis (D – Barnstable) and, more recently, Cleon H. Turner (D – Dennis).

***

Joseph D. Malone, Republican candidate for US Representative of the 10th Congressional District, continues to hunt down endorsements from (former) big names in Massachusetts politics. He has added officials pats on the back from former governor A. Paul Cellucci and Michael Sullivan, a former US Attorney (and acting head of the US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms – three great tastes that go great together).

***

It’s official: Richard P. Purcell is Dr. Jill E. Stein’s running mate on the Green-Rainbow Party gubernatorial ticket. Dr. Stein made it official over the weekend.

Mr. Purcell, a New Mexico native and current Holyoke resident, is a former Democrat who jumped to the Green-Rainbow Party in 2000. He’s been involved with town politics and issues, and is a US Army veteran who served as a medic during Operation: Desert Storm.

And remember, readers, Dr. Stein will be in Waquoit tomorrow evening for the Green-Rainbow Party’s Southeastern Massachusetts Convention at Moonakis Café. That event runs from 5 PM to 8 PM, and Dr. Stein and Peter A. White, unenrolled candidate for Congress, will speak about “Growing the Green Economy.”

For more information contact Daryl Sprague at 617-459-0784 or at dsprague@jillstein.org, or Peter White at 508-477-0238 or peter@peterwhiteindependent4congress.com.

Political news and announcements may be sent to Michael Bailey, Region editor and senior political reporter, at bailey@capenews.net

As you may have seen on the front page of this week’s Region section, Charles D. Baker Jr. and Christy P. Mihos held their first debate of the season in Hyannis last week.

Go here for my analysis, and in the meantime, if you were hoping to meet Mr. Baker but missed the event, you’ll have another chance tomorrow. The candidate is scheduled to swing by a breakfast and signature gathering event in support of Sheriff James M. Cummings’ re-election campaign. That’ll be held at the Hyannis Resort and Conference Center from 9 AM to 11 AM.

This is a joint campaign kick-off event with Michael D. O’Keefe, the Cape and Islands’ DA, and breakfast is on them, so swing on by!

***

Campaigning against the non-incumbent: this year’s hot strategy?

Congressman William D. Delahunt (D), who is retiring this year, has been catching flack from two of the men hoping to succeed him. First, in response to the piece I wrote about Rep. Delahunt and his career (March 12 issue, if you missed it), unenrolled candidate Peter A. White sent me a lengthy statement chiding the congressman for his support for the “wars for oil” in the Middle East, the bank bailouts, and his failure to push for the impeachment of President George W. Bush.

“I was going to let Rep. Delahunt ride off into the sunset of his retirement from Congress and focus on moving our nation forward through the huge problems that he is running away from, but then I decided that would be a disservice to the voters,” Mr. White wrote. “Delahunt was a team player for the Democratic Party, and as such he did a lot of harm.”

Then came a press release from Republican Ray Kasperowicz, who claims a supporter was shooed away the President’s Place in Quincy – where Rep. Delahunt has an office – as he was attempting to collect signatures for the candidate.

“A representative for the management company for Presidential Towers asked that the campaign worker remove his table, signage and campaign material from the premises,” a press release from the Kasperowicz campaign stated. “A follow-up phone call from the candidate to the building management made clear that the office of Congressman William Delahunt, a tenant of the premises, had requested that the candidate’s campaign presence was not appreciated and asked that it be removed.”

“The conduct displayed by either the Congressman or his staff exemplifies the type of arrogant behavior that has angered the public over the past year and a half,” it stated.

Rep. Delahunt’s people at the Quincy office told me that the claim was “absolutely not true.”

A word of advice, if I may, gentlemen? DELAHUNT ISN’T RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION. Why waste your precious time and energy beating a dead horse (or a lame duck, if you prefer a more political aphorism)? To score points with supporters? Please. That’s like bragging to the hot woman at the bar about how you could have totally beaten up the big guy at the pool table who had no intention of fighting you in the first place.

And you, Ray, bubbi — you’ve got two other guys to worry about in the primary. Focus on them, why don’t you? They’re the ones you have to beat! Priorities, man!

***

“Wait a minute,” you might be saying. “Two candidates? I thought three Republicans were running in the primary?”

Actually, as of this week it’s only two; Donald A. Hussey of Hingham, who announced his plans to run last summer and then dropped off the face of the Earth, announced last week he was withdrawing from the race due to family commitments.

Yet that number might go back up to three. A Barnstable chap by the name of Steven J. Scannell has taken out nomination papers for the seat as a Republican.

We are also semi-officially at two Democratic candidates for that race. William Keating, who was previously planning to run for Massachusetts Attorney General, will as early as next week make a formal announcement of candidacy for the 10th and re-launch his campaign website (which is still oriented toward his planned AG run).

So the (possible) final tally for this race: two Democrats, three Republicans, one unenrolled. That may change depending on what happens with Maryanne Lewis, a former state rep who recently left the Democratic Party, and rumor is she’s considering a run for Congress as an unenrolled candidate.

***

Another bloke who’s taken out nomination papers is James H. Crocker Jr. of Osterville. He’s bucking for a run for State Senator of the Cape and Islands, and if he gets on the ballot he’ll first face fellow Republican Eric T. Steinhilber.

***

Thomas F. Keyes of Sandwich, Republican candidate for State Senator of the Plymouth and Barnstable District, has launched his official campaign website. Truck over to www.votekeyes.com and check it out.

Mr. Keyes, who sits on the Barnstable County Assembly of Delegates, will hold his campaign kick-off event next Thursday, April 8, at the Plymouth Country Club in (duh) Plymouth.

***

Another campaign website is live, this one belonging to Sandwich Democrat Lance W. Lambros, candidate for state rep of the fifth Barnstable district. The address for that is www.lancelambros.com.

***

State Representative Timothy R. Madden (D – Nantucket) has given his official website (http://timmadden.com/tim/) a much-needed facelift for the 2010 campaign season…not that it really needs it, because the dude still has no potential challengers.

No offense to Mr. Madden, but – COME ON, people! First-termer! Democrat! Lives on an island! Why is no one going after him?

***

So who was State Representative Matthew C. Patrick’s (D – Falmouth) mystery guest at his fundraiser last week? None other than Joseph P. Kennedy III, an assistant DA here on the Cape and for a brief time a rumored candidate for Congress.

Oysters Too in East Falmouth was packed with supporters last Friday, including several other Democratic candidates — Mr. Keating, Rep. Madden, and Mr. Lambros among them. Rep. Patrick seemed quite fired up for the campaign, and spoke at length about how the Legislature has become “a Banana Republic” under the thumb of the House Speaker (and not just Robert A. DeLeo; the Speakership has for several years been a magnet for men who throw their weight around too much).

***

Attention, supporters of Republican David T. Vieira! He has changed the date of his campaign kick-off event to Tuesday, May 11. It’s still at the Falmouth Navigator and it’s still running from 5 PM to 8 PM. Mr. Vieira is running for state rep of the third Barnstable district.

***

Green-Rainbow candidate Dr. Jill E. Stein will announce her running mate tomorrow at an event in Holyoke. Unlike the major party candidates for governor, Dr. Stein’s running mate (which I suspect is a gent named Richard P. Purcell, since he just filed his paperwork with the Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance) is a lock for the November ballot since he or she will not have to first win a primary race (the mixed blessing of not belonging to a state-recognized political party).

Dr. Stein will be on the Cape next weekend, at the Green-Rainbow Party’s Southeastern Massachusetts Convention at Moonakis Café in Waquoit. That event is on Saturday, April 10 from 5 PM to 8 PM. Mr. White will also be there to speak, and the topic of the evening will be “Growing the Green Economy.”

For more information contact Daryl Sprague at 617-459-0784 or at dsprague@jillstein.org, or Peter White at 508-477-0238 or peter@peterwhiteindependent4congress.com.

***

Endorsement time! Yes, they’re already coming…

Joseph D. Malone, who has been an official candidate for US Representative of the 10th Congressional District for just shy of two weeks, received an “enthusiastic” thumb’s up from former Massachusetts governor William Weld.

“As you know, in the 1990’s I was governor while Joe was state treasurer,” Mr. Weld said in a statement. “During those years, I observed a man who was dedicated to the people of Massachusetts.  A strong fiscal conservative, Joe displayed his intellect, courage and integrity on a daily basis.  He was and is a tenacious champion for the taxpayer and the free enterprise system.”

To make sure you’re all getting this straight: a guy who hasn’t been involved in Massachusetts politics for 13 years is behind the candidacy of a guy who hasn’t been involved in Massachusetts politics in 12 years. Boy, what a compelling endorsement!

***

This, on the other hand, will actually carry some weight: US Senator Scott P. Brown (R) has endorsed State Representative Jeffrey D. Perry (R – Sandwich) in his bid for Congress.

“Having served with Jeff in the Legislature, I know that like me he believes in low taxes, a strong national defense and in the pro-growth policies that will create jobs and get our economy moving again,” Sen. Brown said in a video message posted on Rep. Perry’s campaign website.

“By electing Jeff Perry, the voters of the 10th Congressional District will once again be sending a strong message to the politicians in Washington that the time has come to start listening to the people once again,” Sen. Brown said. “If you believe that Washington is broken, Jeff is just the guy we need to help fix it.”

As Sen. Brown remarked, the two gents were buddies in the Legislature and Rep. Perry worked on the senator’s campaign, so the endorsement is hardly surprising, but it will definitely increase Rep. Perry’s visibility outside of the Cape Cod area.

Word is this endorsement surprised/irked Joe Malone, who has been sort of on the outs with the Mass. GOP since he left office under a dark cloud (stemming from the fact some of his aides nicked about $9 million from the state; Malone was never implicated in the crime, but suspicions linger).

By the way, remember that Rep. Perry’s next fundraiser, “Pizza with Perry,” is Thursday, April 15 at the Hyannis VFW near the airport rotary. That runs from 6 PM to 7:30 PM, and campaign donations will be accepted at the door.

Political news and announcements may be sent to Michael Bailey, Region editor and senior political reporter, at bailey@capenews.net

Yep, there was a lot of movement last week, and let’s start with what is shaping up to be the big race on the Cape, the race for US Representative of the 10^th Congressional District. On Sunday Republican Joseph D. Malone made his candidacy official with a special kick-off event at Plimoth Plantation. The former state treasurer has vowed to reach out to voters of all political persuasions in his campaign.

His official campaign website is up at http://joemalonecongress.com.

With Mr. Malone all in, we now have a slate of six candidates, and we’re waiting on a seventh in William Keating, the Norfolk County District Attorney who has been planning to formally end his bid for Massachusetts Attorney General and shift his attention to the seat currently held by Congressman (and former Norfolk County DA) William D. Delahunt (D).

***

One of the other Republican candidates for the Congressional seat, State Representative Jeffrey D. Perry (R – Sandwich), is beefing up his campaign in anticipation of a very active primary race.

Rep. Perry recently announced he was adding Swift Current Strategies — which worked on US Senator Scott P. Brown’s (R) campaign — to his team, and launched a new social networking website for supporters dubbed “Perry’s Patriots.” You can find that at www.perryspatriots.com (just look for the logo that is just similar enough to the New England Patriots logo to get him in dutch with Bob Kraft).

Perry's Patriot and Pat the Patriot - separated at birth?

***

Another candidate in this hectic race is State Senator Robert A. O’Leary (D – Barnstable), and his pending departure from the state Legislature has so far attracted three Democrats interested in succeeding him: Sheila R. Lyons, a member of the Barnstable County Board of County Commissioners; Mark D. Forest, longtime aide to Rep. Delahunt; and Daniel A. Wolf, CEO of Cape Air.

Mr. Wolf is well-known in the Cape business community so he’s not a non-entity, but his political experience is, to the best of my knowledge, virtually non-existent. Ms. Lyons has had relatively limited experience, all of it in county government, but she knows how to campaign and get her name out. Mr. Forest knows the game at the federal level and has connections throughout the district, so I have to call him the odds-on favorite.

Barnstable and Mashpee readers can learn more about the candidates in the front section.

So far only one Republican, Eric Steinhilber, is in the mix, but word is that Barnstable Town Councilor James Crocker Jr. has taken out nomination papers.

Since I’m talking about this race, now’s a good time to mention that Ms. Lyons, Mr. Forest, and Mr. Wolf are scheduled to appear at a candidates’ forum sponsored by the Harwich Democratic Town Committee. That’s happening on Tuesday, April 6 at 7:30 PM, and will be held at the Harwich Community Center.

***

The slate is almost full!

State Representative Susan D. Williams Gifford (R – Wareham) was this close to running unopposed for re-election, but Democrat David A. Smith of Wareham is preparing his run for the second Plymouth district seat.

I’ve found no info on the dude in my initial Google search, but as I learn more about the chap, I’ll pass it along.

As I wrap this week’s column up, the only member of the Cape delegation without an opponent for 2010 is State Representative Timothy R. Madden (D – Nantucket).

***

Last week I mentioned that Republican David T. Vieira of Falmouth was officially in as a candidate for state representative of the third Barnstable district. Well, first of all, his campaign website is now live, and that’s at www.votevieira.com. He’s also announced his kick-off fundraiser at the Falmouth Navigator (just off Sandwich Road in Hatchville) for Thursday, May 6 from 5 PM to 8 PM. Tickets are $25.

Meanwhile, incumbent state rep Matthew C. Patrick (D – Falmouth) is officially kicking off his re-election campaign tonight. Rep. Patrick, supporters, and special mystery guests will be at Oysters Too in East Falmouth tonight from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM. There is a suggested donation of $50, but all are welcome to attend.

***

Oliver P. Cipollini Jr., Democratic candidate for governor’s councilor of the first district, has his new campaign website up and hummin’. Beat feet over to www.olivercipollini.com and check it out.

***

An unenrolled candidate has thrown his name into the ring for Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth. James Henderson of Stow filed his paperwork with the Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance, and now joins incumbent William F. Galvin and Republican William Campbell of Woburn.

***

Now this, I must say, is kind of cool.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Charles D. Baker Jr. marked St. Patrick’s Day in an unusual way: People who went to his website last week and made a donation of $20.10 (as in Campaign 2010) received as a thank-you a download of “(F)lanagan’s Ball” by the Dropkick Murphys.

The Dropkick Murphys? Really? How unexpectedly hip of Baker. What next, Christy P. Mihos trading donations for Foo Fighters MP3s?

On that note: those two gentlemen will square off tonight at the Cape Codder Resort. This head-to-head debate starts at 7 PM (doors open at 6:15 PM, presumably to sell beer, popcorn, and giant foam fingers). The Cape Cod Republican Club and the Women’s Republican Club of Cape Cod are co-sponsoring the event.

Political news and announcements may be sent to Michael Bailey, Region editor and senior political reporter, at bailey@capenews.net

And yet, I now find myself compelled to defend him a second time (the first time is here).

It’s all due to this Boston Herald story entitled Republicans Feeling Blue As Scott Brown Win Backfires. If you’re too lazy to read it yourself, here’s the gist of the story: Republicans and Tea Partiers who supported Brown are now feeling like grade-A suckers because Brown failed to stop the health care reform bill from passing.

Here’s a telling quote from the story:

“We start to wonder whether we helped a RINO (Republican in name only) get into office,” said Tea Party activist Jeffrey McQueen, who traveled from Michigan to campaign for Brown in the final days of the Jan. 19 special election that rocked the nation. “If it wasn’t for the Tea Party movement, Scott Brown wouldn’t have gotten that seat. We expect to see a true conservative in there.”

First of all: You expected to see a “true conservative,” eh? What happened to the Tea Party being a bipartisan movement? Or was that claim never really sincere? (He asked rhetorically…)

Second: Brown did not vote for the bill. He did vote to allow the process to continue rather than being hijacked by a filibuster — which, ironically enough, led to the Democrats manipulating the process to their advantage so they needed a smaller majority to pass the bill — but the bill itself? He voted against it, just like he said he would.

There was no “betrayal” anywhere here, except perhaps of Brown’s supporters’ expectations — expectations as unrealistic as, say, thinking Obama would overnight undue a decade’s worth of economic destruction. Brown voted against the bill, just like you goofs wanted, so why are you angry at him? Because one guy was unable to overcome a system riddled with loopholes and arcane parliamentary procedures (that the GOP itself used 35 times in the 2005 – 2006 Congressional session, I might add)? What, are you also pissed at that Chinese college kid because he failed to stop the tanks at Tienanmen Square?

Politicians aren’t wizards fresh out of Hogwarts, people. “One man, one vote” is a great slogan but it’s not, for good or ill, how things get done in Washington.

If anything good could come out of this, it’s perhaps that Democrats and Republicans now have a common ground upon which to commiserate: They both now know what it’s like to load up one man with all your hopes and dreams and have them dashed to bits by the cold hard fact that he’s only human.

PS: Democrats, y’might want to stop being so dickish about this situation. How many times must you fly too close to the sun and plummet into the ocean before you realize that arrogance is not a virtue?

It’s official! David T. Vieira of Falmouth is in the running for state representative of the third Barnstable district!

Mr. Vieira gave me the head’s up last week at a Mashpee Republican Town Committee meeting, and he pulled the trigger on Wednesday. There should be a full profile in the front section of this paper (except for Sandwich, because it’s not in the district…no soup for you!).

This sets the stage for a possible rematch between Mr. Vieira and State Representative Matthew C. Patrick (D – Falmouth), who faced off in 2000 as fellow first-time candidates for the Legislature. If this one goes forward, it’ll be a very cool race to watch.

***

Hey, debate fans! There’s something juicy coming up next week!

The Cape Codder Resort will host a head-to-head debate between Republican gubernatorial candidates Charles D. Baker Jr. and Christy P. Mihos next Friday, March 26, starting at 7 PM. The Cape Cod Republican Committee and the Women’s Republican Club of Cape Cod put this baby together, and I’m betting this is going to be a fun night.

***

Since we’re talking about the governor’s race, I’ll take up this item I’ve been sitting on for a couple of weeks…

The latest Suffolk University/WHDH-TV poll on the governor’s race is not looking promising for Mr. Mihos. In a theoretical primary showdown between the two Republican candidates, Mr. Baker wins with 47 percent of voters polled supporting him, 36 percent undecided, and 17 percent siding with Mr. Mihos.

You know you’re doing poorly if you finish third behind “undecided.” And this is a major turnaround since the last poll in November, which had Mihos in the lead with 33 percent support to Baker’s 30 percent.

(For those of you who care about such things, Baker’s campaign war chest is sprinting toward the $2 million mark. Mihos’s coffers are looking mighty empty at a shade under $4,700. I hasten to add a quick word of advice for the candidates, in particular Charlie Baker: stop bragging about how much money you’re raising. It’s not helping you win hearts and minds. Really.)

Democrat Grace Ross is in a similar boat. In a theoretical primary race between her and incumbent Deval L. Patrick, Gov. Patrick, 59 percent of those surveyed said they’d vote for him, 26 percent were undecided, and 15 percent chose Ms. Ross.

Now, in a theoretical four-way race between Gov. Patrick, Mr. Baker, Green-Rainbow Party candidate Dr. Jill E. Stein, and unenrolled candidate Timothy P. Cahill, the results were, respectively: 33 percent, 25 percent, three percent, and 23 percent.

A Rasmussen Reports poll generated the same basic results: Gov. Patrick narrowly beat Mr. Baker, and Mr. Cahill came in third. Dr. Stein was nowhere to be seen in this poll; the fourth slot went to “undecided.”

Interestingly, in a theoretical race in which Mr. Mihos was the Republican candidate, Gov. Patrick still won and Tim Cahill was the runner-up, and Smilin’ Christy M. came in third.

***

In other gubernatorial news, Mr. Cahill announced last week he has added to former strategists from US Senator John McCain’s (R) 2008 Presidential campaign: John Weaver and John Yob.

Supporters are promoting this as the addition of some serious muscle to Mr. Cahill’s campaign, but I don’t know if I’d crow too loudly about having guys on my team whose last big gig was helping the guy who lost.

***

And as Mr. Cahill’s campaign team grows, Mr. Mihos’s shrinks. Joe Manzoli, Mr. Mihos’s campaign manager, left the team last week, stating only that he wanted his professional life to move “in a different direction.”

The candidate insists all is well within his camp, despite a recent spate of campaign staff and personal finance issues.

I should note that Mr. Mihos recently attended a Tea Party-sponsored event in Westborough. This appearance has fueled speculation that he’s courting the Tea Party movement to revitalize his flagging campaign.

Whether this is true and proves a shrewd and successful new strategy or a dying candidate’s desperate Hail Mary play has yet to be seen, but it could work; Baker has been heavily criticized in some corners as being a big-money mainstream candidate, so a well-played “outsider” card could yield some positive results.

***

Our last note this week on the governor’s race: Ms. Ross, who jumped ship from the Green-Rainbow Party to join the Democrats, has launched her campaign website at www.graceross.org.

***

We’ve previously seen “Jokes With Jeff,” now it’s time for “Pizza With Perry.”

State Representative Jeffrey D. Perry (R – Sandwich), candidate for the 10^th Congressional district, will hold a fundraiser on Thursday, April 15 – not coincidentally, the day after the deadline for filing your taxes – at the Hyannis VFW near the airport rotary. That runs from 6 PM to 7:30 PM, and campaign donations will be accepted at the door.

Go to www.jeffperryforcongress.com/events.html for details.

***

Eric Steinhilber is Everywhere Man!

The Republican (and so far only) candidate for State Senator of the Cape and Islands district will be putting in face time at several events across the Cape this spring, including a candidates’ night in Eastham (March 25), the aforementioned gubernatorial debate, a fundraiser for Barnstable County Sheriff James M. Cummings (April 2), a Woman’s Republican Club of Cape Cod luncheon (April 9), the “Brewster in Bloom Parade” (May 2), and the Cape Cod Republican Club’s annual meeting (May 17).

Go to Mr. Steinhilber’s campaign website at www.electeric2010.com for more info, then get out and say hi to the chap.

***

State Representative Karyn Polito (R – Shrewsbury) has launched her new website in support of her campaign for state treasurer. Go to www.karynpolitofortreasurer.com to learn more.

Meanwhile, Republican Brian J. Herr has dropped out of the treasurer’s race and is now running for the third Congressional district.

***

The official campaign website for Walter Moniz, Democratic candidate for governor’s councilor of the first district, is also up and running. That’s at http://waltermoniz.com.

Political news and announcements may be sent to Michael Bailey, Region editor and senior political reporter, at bailey@capenews.net

This means the race is officially a free-for-all and it’s anyone’s game. Rep. Delahunt, had he run, would have had the incumbent’s advantage — a combination of money, familiarity, influence in government, and a track record even his critics would agree was generally positive (I won’t say perfect, because perfection doesn’t exist in life, much less in politics).

For the Big Two Parties, the 10th Congressional district is now a key battleground. The Democrats will be desperate to hold onto the seat (they’re still stinging from US Senator Scott P. Brown’s (R) victory), and the Republicans will be eager to claim another federal seat in Blue State Massachusetts.

Both sides are going to be courting voters hard and heavy in the coming months, trying to influence what is a very weighty decision. Voters this year will have to give some serious thought to who they want representing them in Congress during an exceptionally volatile period; whoever gets in will be the New Kid on the Block and will have to work his way up from the mailroom, metaphorically speaking, so the district will need someone who can hit the ground running and isn’t afraid to make some noise.

Right now the choices are State Senator Robert A. O’Leary (D – Barnstable), who confirmed his candidacy last week immediately after Rep. Delahunt’s announcement; Republicans Donald A. Hussey, Ray Kasperowicz, State Representative Jeffrey D. Perry (R – Sandwich), and Joseph D. Malone (who confirmed his candidacy this week after several weeks of hemming and hawing); and unenrolled candidate Peter A. White.

Expect that list to grow, particularly on the Democrat side of things.

***

On a very related note, as I mentioned above, Sen. O’Leary is now running for US Representative for the 10th Congressional district, which means his state senate seat is now open. To date there is only one definite candidate for the post, Barnstable Republican Eric Steinhilber.

Several names have emerged as possible candidates. Mark D. Forest, Rep. Delahunt’s ever-reliable aide, Daniel Wolf, owner and CEO of Cape Air, and Barnstable County Commissioner Sheila V. Lyons are all considering running.

Paul J. Neidzwiecki, executive director of the Cape Cod Commission, denied rumors he was in the mix. State Representative Sarah K. Peake (D – Provincetown), once mentioned as a possible candidate, is sticking with her state rep post, and Sen. O’Leary’s long-time aide Susan Rohrbach denied she’s running to succeed her boss.

A historical note: Sen. O’Leary was elected to his current post in 2000 during a frenzied special selection process sparked by then-State Senator Henri S. Rauschenbach’s surprise September announcement he would not run for re-election in order to take a job with the state.

Mr. Rauschenbach had already won the primary race, so the Cape Cod Republican Committee was tasked with finding a replacement candidate. That replacement was Edward B. Teague III, a former state representative and – time to start connecting some crazy dots – the man who Rep. Delahunt defeated to win his first term.

Edward D. Lamperti of Eastham was lined up as the Democratic candidate, but he also withdrew. He at first cited an inability to meet the time commitments of the job, but later revealed that Cape Democrats had pressured him to withdraw so they could recruit a more viable candidate: then-county commissioner O’Leary, who had, no foolin’, challenged Mr. Rauschenbach for state senate in 1988.

Bonus fact: when Sen. O’Leary won, he became the first Democrat to hold that senate seat in 140 years.

***

Also related to this wacky game of political musical chairs: despite some rumors to the contrary, Senate President Therese M. Murray (D – Plymouth) is not running for Congress, and is instead laying the groundwork for a Senate re-election campaign.

“I am humbled by the overwhelming support and encouragement I have received since my name came up as a possible candidate for the Massachusetts 10th Congressional seat,” Sen. Murray said. “My commitment and focus, however, remain on the people of my district and the Massachusetts Senate. I have dedicated my entire career in the state Senate to being a voice for my constituents and making real change on Beacon Hill. That is what I will continue to do.”

Thomas F. Keyes of Sandwich has announced his plans to run for state senator of the Plymouth and Barnstable district, making him the first and so far only potential challenger to Sen. Murray.

***

And yet another local campaign is off and running (pun intended)!

State Representative Demetrius J. Atsalis (D – Barnstable) held a “Kick the Winter Blues Gathering” campaign fundraiser in Hyannis Monday, to support his bid for a seventh term in office. So far he has only one prospective opponent in Republican James F. Munafo Jr., a Barnstable town councilor.

***

Oliver P. Cipollini Jr. is taking another shot for governor’s council. The Marstons Mills Democrat challenged incumbent and fellow Dem Carole A. Fiola in 2008 in the primary, and though Mr. Cipollini took the Cape with 44 percent of the vote (he took 13 out of 15 towns), he fell short overall; Ms. Fiola received 67 percent of the vote throughout her district and was unchallenged in the general election.

Ms. Fiola recently announced that she is not running for re-election this year as governor’s councilor of the first district.

Mr. Cipollini is prepping a new campaign website at www.olivercipollini.com, and I’ll let you know when that’s fully up and running.

He joins a small but growing field of candidates. Democrat Walter Moniz of New Bedford made his presence known last week, and this week I received an announcement from Democrat Jeffrey T. Gregory of Fall River, a retired police sergeant, that he too would be running.

***

A Woburn Republican has thrown his hat in the ring for Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth. William Campbell filed his paperwork with the Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance, and is at present the only person in line to challenge incumbent William F. Galvin.

Mr. Campbell has a very tough race on his hands. Mr. Galvin does some truly excellent work and his office, which I deal with regularly, is very responsive and helpful. When you do a great job, it’s tough to get kicked out.

I’m on vacation next week, so I’d like to ask all the politicians out there to hold off on doing anything huge until I get back, ‘kay? Thanks.

Political news and announcements may be sent to Michael Bailey, Region editor and senior political reporter, at bailey@capenews.net

I’ve had the matter on my mind for a while now, ever since a candidate — who shall remain nameless — chastised me for referring to him as an “unenrolled candidate” rather than his preferred title of “independent candidate.”

Before I continue, I should clarify a crucial point: There is no such thing as the “Independent Party.” Ain’t so such animal. Massachusetts recognizes the “Massachusetts Independent Party” and the “American Independent Party” — not to be confused with the “Independent American Party” or the “New American Independent Party” or the various [Insert state name here] Independent Parties — but strictly speaking, there is no national political entity known simply as “The Independent Party.”

To avoid confusion with any of the parties that adopted “Independent” as part of their name, the Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth’s Office’s official designation for all non-party candidates is “unenrolled,” the same label applied to voters with no chosen party membership (which is not to be confused with “unregistered,” which refers to a resident who is not registered to vote at all).

<sarcasm font> Now that I’ve cleared all that up… </sarcasm font>

The debate between myself and the candidate went back and forth for much longer than it probably should have (I can dig my heels in with the best of them), but along the way I realized that “independent” was now much more than a practical label; it was a selling point, and perhaps that was why he was fighting so hard to convince me to use that in my references to him rather than “unenrolled.”

Until January 2010, “independent” was a very neutral term. It described, simply, people who didn’t belong to any party, big or small. It was utilitarian, benign, even toothless; very few people have been elected to major office as a proud independent (for the record, I don’t count Joe Lieberman. Aside from the fact he ran under the header “Connecticut for Lieberman” and is officially on US Senate rolls as an “Independent Democrat” and is technically still registered as a Democrat, he went indie for one self-serving reason: It was the only way to get his name back on the ballot after voters handed him a defeat in the primary against Ned Lamont).

So what happened? Scott Brown happened.

I know, Tim Cahill was promoting himself as “independent” months earlier, after dumping the Dems for his gubernatorial run, but Brown gave the tag some real oomph. Although a Republican, he pushed hard the idea that he was an independent voice who would follow the wishes of his constituents over party poobahs, and people bought into it.

Now, “independent” has some credibility. It has weight and heft — and yes, it has zazz. In this day of profound dissatisfaction with our elected leaders in both parties — the GOP for their role in creating many of the problems we’re dealing with now and arrogant denial of culpability, and the Democrats for so spectacularly mishandling our recovery while displaying a stunning level of cluelessness as to the wants and needs of their constituents — independent candidates, and party candidates who claim an independent mindset, are a very attractive new(ish) alternative. They promise to cut the imposing Gordian Knot tied tight by two contrasting, often conflicting bodies that seem more intent on proving their way of doing things is the “right” way than in seeking actual solutions. Every major election cycle produces its own set of catchphrases and buzzwords, and “independent” is topping the list of 2010.

But, like every other sloganized campaign pitch, its meaning will be lost as quickly as it was gained as bandwagon candidates disingenuously embrace the sizzle but not the steak, and in 2012 independents will be sooooooooo one mid-term ago and the latest shiny sound bite will captivate the electorate.

Or worse: real and perceived independents will be swept into office in sufficient numbers to warrant their own caucuses. Then they’ll start getting together regularly to discuss issues and tactics. Then they’ll codify their political philosophies into a formal platform to sell to voters and like-minded politicians to entice them under their banner.

Hello, Independent Party.

The man at the center of this big ball of crazy is Congressman William D. Delahunt (D), who is expected to announce this month whether he will run for re-election. There’s been a lot of idle speculation that an eighth term isn’t in the cards, and that speculation intensified last week in light of several news stories detailing $560,000 in campaign spending in 2009, a lot of it on things only somewhat related to actual campaigning (like expensive meals and fees to relatives in his employ).

The theory is that Rep. Delahunt is spending down his financial reserves, and we’ll soon all know whether that theory is true.

On paper, there’s a small army of Democrats waiting for Rep. Delahunt to withdraw so the Great Cape Cod Political Shuffle can begin. One scenario has State Senator Robert A. O’Leary (D – Barnstable) running to replace Delahunt and State Representative Sarah K. Peake (D – Provincetown) running to replace Sen. O’Leary.

Sen. O’Leary, by the way, has confirmed he would take a shot at Congress should Rep. Delahunt retire.

Ah, but this game of musical chairs might not be so simple. Scuttlebutt is that William Keating, who is officially a candidate for Massachusetts Attorney General, will abandon that race and instead run for representative of the 10th Congressional district. Folks have been wondering about Keating’s plans since fellow Democrat Martha Coakley, following her botched US Senate bid, decided to run for reelection as AG.

If Delahunt goes bye-bye, it’d give Keating someplace safe to go — meaning, a race that doesn’t pit him against an incumbent from the same party. And, as a bonus, he wouldn’t have to face Joseph P. Kennedy III, grandson of the late Robert F. Kennedy, who this week officially denied rumors that he’d run for Congress if Rep. Delahunt retired.

There’s still a rumor floating around that Senate President Therese M. Murray (D – Plymouth) could also throw her hat in, but she’s said nothing herself to suggest this.

***

Another word on Sen. O’Leary’s seat. Last week I mentioned that he did not have a prospective challenger. Well, it appears that he in fact does: a gent named Eric Steinhilber, who kicked off his campaign last weekend with an event in Hyannis.

Apparently Mr. Steinhilber has been planning this for a while — the Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance indicated his paperwork was filed last year — but he’s not done a spectacular job about getting his name out there. Better rectify that double-quick, m’man.

Although he’s a Barnstable native, Mr. Steinhilber is a former Arlington resident who, in 2004, ran unsuccessfully for state representative of the 26th Middlesex district. He may be familiar to some folks in his capacity as development director for the Alliance to Protect Nantucket Sound (gee, can’t imagine THAT coming up at all during the campaign).

Look for a full introductory feature in the Barnstable and Mashpee Enterprises.

***

It took a while, but it looks like the political scene at the county level is starting to come to life.

I mentioned last week that James M. Cummings, Barnstable County sheriff, was going to be running for re-election, and now we can add County Commissioner William Doherty to the list of county officials aiming for another go-round.

The ever-amiable Mr. Doherty is currently gathering signatures on his nomination papers for what will be his second re-election bid. He’s a fun guy to chat with, so take advantage of it if you see him.

***

Interest in the state treasurer’s post continues to increase. Democrat Stephen Murphy, a Boston city councilor, has entered the race, and word is that State Representative Karyn Polito (R – Shrewsbury) has pulled papers for that race and will be leaving the Legislature. Mr. Murphy has an official Facebook campaign page, but neither have a formal campaign website.

***

Carole A. Fiola, who has served as governor’s councilor for the first district for the past 10 years, announced this week she will not seek reelection to a sixth term.

Ms. Fiola said in a statement to the media that “serving 10 years in this office will be enough for me. I have never intended to spend my lifetime in this position and it is important to continually evaluate your life’s endeavors.”

The governor’s council is responsible for approving gubernatorial appointments to the courts, and weighs in on payments from the state treasury and on court-issued pardons. The first district includes 48 municipalities in southeastern Massachusetts, including the Cape and Islands.

Walter Moniz, a New Bedford businessman and former mayoral aide, is seeking to replace Ms. Fiola, a fellow Democrat.

***

Last call for F. Randal Hunt’s campaign kickoff event! The Sandwich Republican officially launches his campaign for state representative of the fifth Barnstable district on Tuesday. That’s at the Sandwich Hollows Golf Course from 5 PM to 7 PM. The guy he’s hoping to succeed, State Representative Jeffrey D. Perry (R – Sandwich), is the guest speaker.

***

All right, looks like it’s time for my traditional election year spiel about “independent” candidates.

Here in Massachusetts, we have three recognized political parties (Democrat, Republican, Libertarian) and 18 political designations. The sole perk of being a party rather than a designation: a formal “party” gets to hold primary races to determine which candidate will be on the general election ballot, a “designation” does not.

How does one become a formal party? If a given political organization receives three percent of the total vote cast in a biennial statewide election in which a member of said organization is a candidate for a federal (President, US Senate, Congress) or statewide constitutional seat (governor, attorney general, etc.), that organization is granted full-fledged “political party” status. Any that do not meet the three percent threshold are “political designations.”

There is no party or designation in Massachusetts called simply “The Independent Party.” The closest we come in this state is a political designation is called the “American Independent Party.”

The Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth’s Office refers to any candidate who does not belong to a recognized party or designation as “unenrolled.” Sometimes it’ll use “non-party” but “unenrolled” is the official term it uses to avoid confusing a self-proclaimed “independent” (not capitalized) with any kind of Independent (capitalized) party.

All clear? Cool, then let me confuse things: even if a political organization is officially a “designation,” it’ll almost always be referred to as a party because they almost always use “party” as part of their name, but that doesn’t mean they’re actually a party. Got it?

Politics is hard. Let’s go shopping…

***

In closing, here’s an entry for the “What’s could possibly go wrong?” file: last month State Representative Ellen Story (D – Amherst), in an interview with the State House News, said, “I can’t think of a single rep who is going to lose their seat” due to growing anti-incumbent sentiments in Massachusetts.

Someone remind me to revisit this quote in November so we can see how far off this prediction is.

Political news and announcements may be sent to Michael Bailey, Region editor and senior political reporter, at bailey@capenews.net

This week another candidate for the Legislature emerged, and that name is James F. Munafo, Jr. He’s a Republican and currently serves as a Barnstable Town Councilor (for precinct three).

He last ran for the post in 1998 but didn’t make it past the primary. The man who eventually won that race is the man Mr. Munafo could face in November: State Representative Demetrius J. Atsalis (D – Barnstable).

As of deadline this week, three members of the Cape’s legislative delegation have no pending challenges: State Senator Robert A. O’Leary (D – Barnstable), and State Representatives Susan D. Williams Gifford (R – Wareham) and Matthew C. Patrick (D – Barnstable)…although that list may soon shorten (more on that below).

***

Despite rumors that he would be retiring at the end of this, his second term, Barnstable County Sheriff James M. Cummings is planning to run for re-election. He pulled nomination papers last week, but has yet to make a formal announcement.

Sheriff Cummings, a Falmouth Republican, was first elected to the office in 1998.

***

Republican David T. Vieira of Falmouth – who, coincidentally, works for Sheriff Cummings — is one step closer to becoming a formal candidate for state representative of the third Barnstable district (now represented by the aforementioned Rep. Patrick). He has his nomination papers and he’s out and about collecting signatures, so if you see him, stop and say hi.

***

Joseph D. Malone could take Congressman William D. Delahunt (D) in a fight, and a new survey commissioned by Joseph D. Malone proves it!

Mr. Malone — a former two-term Massachusetts state treasurer and Republican candidate in the 1988 US Senate and 1998 gubernatorial races — commissioned a survey of 300 voters in the 10th Congressional district to determine where he stood in a theoretical race between himself and Rep. Delahunt (who, as of this writing, has yet to decide if he’s running for re-election). That survey was conducted by, as the Boston Herald put it, “conservative consultants McLaughlin & Associates.”

The results: Malone beat Rep. Delahunt, 37 percent to 34 percent.

Am I the only one who suspects this poll may be slanted?

Now now, Republicans, don’t take this as a pro-Delahunt remark; if I’m going to give Malone a hard time about anything it’d be the fact his résumé is weak and the man hasn’t done squat in politics for more than a decade.

And that, really, is the basis of my suspicion. How could a guy with so few credentials and so little name recognition best a Democratic incumbent in a theoretical race unless A) the questions posed to voters were leading and/or B) Republican voters instantly sided with the guy who wasn’t a Democrat, giving no thought to his qualifications?

Mr. Malone has yet to enter the race officially, and I think he’d be better off staying in the Land of Has-been Politicians, especially when you consider there’s at least one much stronger GOP candidate already out there (hint: he’s mentioned below).

***

From the “Things You Probably Shouldn’t Have Said” file: in a story that ran in the Boston Globe last week, the gubernatorial candidates were asked what they would do to tackle the state’s fiscal crisis. Republicans Charles D. Baker Jr. and Christy P. Mihos both talked about cutting state jobs, while unenrolled candidate Timothy P. Cahill said this: “I don’t have enough insight into the budget, especially particular areas where money is being wasted, until I get in there.”

Let me reframe that quote: the guy who has served as the Massachusetts State Treasurer since 2002, and who, according to the state treasurer’s website, “manages the state’s finances by taking a fiscally conservative approach to investing and maximizing the use of taxpayer money,” doesn’t “have enough insight into the budget, especially particular areas where money is being wasted.”

Tim, Tim, Tim…you’re losing me here, dude. I know you’re more on the revenue side of the process, but still, shouldn’t you know A LITTLE about where all that money’s going?

***

Elsewhere in the governor’s race, Mr. Mihos got some more unwanted ink in the Boston Globe over the weekend after he apparently bounced a $20,000 check to his campaign committee, raising the question of whether the mostly self-financed candidate can keep his campaign going.

He’s also lost the services of campaign consultant Dick Morris, who was brought on-board last year amidst much ballyhoo and appeared at several early campaign fundraisers. Financial records filed with the state show that Mihos dropped about $80,000 for the last four months’ of Mr. Morris’s services. Mr. Mihos said he plans to hire Mr. Morris back in the near future.

The Mihos camp is of course downplaying the situation, but these aren’t the first financial headaches his campaign has experienced, so it’s looking increasingly dicey for Smilin’ Christy M. Pardon my alliteration, but if he can’t scrape up some serious scratch soon, say sayonara to this sinking ship.

***

Another gubernatorial note: Mr. Baker and his hand-picked running mate Richard R. Tisei are in Plymouth this Sunday if you feeling like making the drive to Gainsborough Hall at Plimoth Plantation. They’ll participate in a town hall-style forum starting at 11:30 AM. Go to https://bakerforgov.wufoo.com/forms/plymouth-town-hall-rsvp/ to RSVP for the event.

***

Here’s your final reminder for State Representative Jeffrey D. Perry’s (R – Sandwich) kickoff event for his Congressional campaign. That’s next Friday, March 5, at the Cape Codder Resort in Hyannis starting at 7 PM.

Rep. Perry is the scheduled guest speaker for another upcoming campaign launch, this one for friend/fellow Republican/campaign treasurer F. Randal Hunt of Sandwich. Mr. Hunt (a.k.a. Randy a.k.a. “The Situation”) is hoping to succeed Rep. Perry as state representative of the fifth Barnstable district. That one is on Tuesday, March 9 at the Sandwich Hollows Golf Course from 5 PM to 7 PM.

***

Peter A. White, unenrolled candidate for US Congress, has launched his official campaign website. Truck on over to www.peterwhiteindependent4congress.com. Not much on it yet, but the events page has an entry on bank bailouts that would make either a good folk music-style protest song or great beat poetry.

***

I know the US Senate special election is done and gone, but this is too damn silly to not mention.

US Senator Scott P. Brown’s (R) daughters Ayla and Arianna sent out an e-mail to supporters with a special offer to commemorate the one-month mark since Sen. Brown defeated Martha Coakley (celebrating the one month anniversary? Really?), including a seat cushion that reads “The People’s Seat.” Behold:

And all it costs you is a $20 donation.

Donation to what, is what I’d like to know. Is Sen. Brown already stockpiling cash for a re-election bid in 2012? Or maybe he’s looking to buy a new truck (just don’t buy a Toyota, dude).

Political news and announcements may be sent to Michael Bailey, Region editor and senior political reporter, at bailey@capenews.net