This horrifying tidbit appeared in today's Boston Herald. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- FAIR USE: Education and Discussion Only!

>>> Herald poll: McCain buries Bush in Bay State by Andrew Miga Sunday, February 27, 2000

Surging John McCain ranks as the overwhelming presidential favorite in Massachusetts, crushing GOP rival George Bush and Democrats Al Gore and Bill Bradley by more than 20 points in trial heats, a new Sunday Herald poll shows.

Slumping Texas Gov. Bush, who has touted his electability and strength against Democratic opponents aa a prime asset, would lose to either Democrat by more than 25 points, the survey shows.

`It's a blowout for McCain in Massachusetts,'' said Herald pollster R. Kelly Myers. ``It doesn't matter if he runs against Bush or the Democrats. He's a political phenomenon in the state.''

McCain's popularity sweeps across party lines in a state that is among the nation's most reliable Democratic strongholds.

McCain has shot to the front of the pack in the Bay State, which has traditionally favored Democrats for the White House such as Bill Clinton in 1992 and 1996 and Michael Dukakis in 1988.

``McCain's lead in Massachusetts is remarkable,'' said Myers of RKM Research and Communications. ``It shows potential strength for McCain as a general election candidate. For a Republican to have a lead over Democrats in Massachusetts is a profound switch.''

McCain would trounce Bush 62-27, according to the poll of 402 likely GOP primary voters. The Massachusetts primary is March 7.

The Arizona senator would also beat Gore 54-34 percent and Bradley 54-33 percent among all 873 registered voters surveyed.

Seventy-six percent of voters have a favorable view of McCain, compared to just 43 percent for Bush. Three times as many voters view Bush unfavorably - 43 percent - as McCain - 14 percent.

``Bush is not getting the traction he would expect in Massachusetts at all,'' said Myers. ``He's even having trouble with Republicans who have supported him in most other states.''

McCain has carved a 47-40 percent lead among registered Bay State Republicans - and even defeats Bush among conservatives, a group the Texas governor considers part of his political base.

``Bush can't even win the conservatives,'' noted Myers. ``Bush is in a precarious position in Massachusetts.''

The survey of 873 registered voters in Massachusetts was conducted Feb. 24-26 and has a 3.3 point margin of error.

On the Democratic side, Gore has a comfortable lead over Bradley, 53-29 percent. The survey included 404 likely Democratic primary voters.

``The numbers show no evidence for a potential Bradley surge in Massachusetts,'' said Myers. ``Gore leads among independents and Democrats alike, so turnout won't make a big difference. Massachusetts is Gore-friendly.''

McCain has drawn substantial support from Democrats and independents as he has moved to the head of the pack.

The McCain surge in Massachusetts has also shown up in voter registration patterns in recent weeks following his 19-point Feb. 1 New Hampshire primary victory.

State ballot officials noted that 22,000 Democrats had changed their registration to independent as of January. Another 4,100 voters switched their registration from Democratic to Republican.

Such so-called swing voters - who tend to be more suburban, more educated and more upscale - gave former Gov. William F. Weld his electoral strength during the 1990s in the Bay State.

Massachusetts Gov. Paul Cellucci, like dozens of other GOP governors across the nation, is heading up Bush's effort in his state. <<<

-- Irving (irvingf@myremarq.com), February 27, 2000

Answers

No big surprise there. After all, that's the state that keeps sending Ted Kennedy to Washington.

They know what they like. They like McCain. Is anyone really surprised at that?

-- Charles Underwood Farley (chuck@u.farley), February 27, 2000.

This horrifying tidbit appeared in today's Boston Herald. <<

Horrifying?? This is great news!!!!!! Send Bush packing back to texas! Bush thinks he's entitled to the presidency 'cause his papa was one once?? puleeese!

-- Rob (celtic64@inficad.com), February 27, 2000.

I'm hoping that McCain is not surging because he's perceived by liberals as being like them (which he's not). Let's face it, Gore and Bradley are the liberals, and for anybody to outpace them here is an ominous sign indeed (I hope).

I really hope that the huge screwups with the Big Dig (10 billion over budget so far) (that's right, 10 billion over budget and it's still not done 3 years over schedule) have caused a change in perception here. Fingers crossed. Between Clinton's screwups and the Big Dig, maybe ChinaChussetts isn't so liberal any more.

Time for a change?

-- paul leblanc (bronyaur@gis.net), February 27, 2000.

Your right. He's definitely not a liberal! Other than being pro-gun- control, pro-abortion, anti-privacy, anti-tax cut, and pro-big- government, McCain is as conservative as they come.

Guess which Mass. liberal said THIS:

"By calling attention to 'a well regulated militia', the 'security' of the nation, and the right of each citizen 'to keep and bear arms', our founding fathers recognized the essentially civilian nature of our economy. Although it is extremely unlikely that the fears of governmental tyranny which gave rise to the Second Amendment will ever be a major danger to our nation, the Amendment still remains an important declaration of our basic civilian-military relationships, in which every citizen must be ready to participate in the defense of his country. For that reason, I believe the Second Amendment will always be important."

-- Charles Underwood Farley (chuck@u.farley), February 27, 2000.

an ABC News poll released Friday found two-thirds of Americans saying they know little about McCain and that 7 in 10 described him either as a moderate or a liberal, despite the fact that in his new ads he calls himself a proud Reagan conservative. A bare majority of Americans say the more they hear about McCain the more they like him, but that could change when they learn specifics about his stands on issues. McCains greatest appeal is to moderates and independents, but the ABC News poll found that 6 in 10 Americans do not know his position on abortion (he is opposed) and 7 in 10 do not know his position on gun control (he is against most new gun control legislation)

-- Vern (bacon17@ibm.net), February 27, 2000.

Charles, I give up.

-- Markus Archus (apxov@mail.com), February 27, 2000.