Special Election in Massachusetts; (Update) Tsongas Wins

Flying well under the radar but sure to make news later tonight is the special election being held in Massachusetts to replace Democrat Martin Meehan.

Jim Ogonowski may be a political newcomer, but the Republican has learned a thing or two during his first run for elective office.

Today, the final day before voters go to the polls in a special election to replace former Rep. Martin Meehan, Ogonowski sprinted up and down the line of cars waiting at a Dunkin’ Donuts drive-thru, seizing upon the captive audience — and open driver-side windows — to pass out campaign literature.

"Every vote counts," the farmer and former Air Force lieutenant colonel told one driver. "We’re that close."

Democrat Niki Tsongas, the other headliner in the race, employed a slightly less frenetic pace, visiting several senior centers and holding an ice cream social as she sought to claim for herself the House seat once held by her late husband and 1992 presidential contender, Paul Tsongas.

"Tomorrow’s it," Niki Tsongas, 61, told several silver-haired listeners at the Dracut senior center. "Tomorrow’s decision day."

Yet while Ogonowski flitted about looking for support, planning 40 rapid-fire stops on Monday, Tsongas continued to pound away on her opponent for refusing to state how he would vote — if elected — on a presidential override scheduled for Thursday.

The Democratically controlled House is poised to overturn President Bush’s rejection of a bill increasing funding and expanding the scope of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program.

The winner of Tuesday’s election could begin work as early as Wednesday.

Awfully convenient how this S-CHIP issue has made it into the campaign. I wonder if it was an issue three weeks ago?

Ogonowski has a different opinion on it.

Ogonowski, 49, a Dracut farmer and former Air Force lieutenant colonel whose brother John died on Sept. 11, 2001, when the jetliner he was flying was hijacked, has said he supported expanding children's health care, but he wants to overhaul the bill should he head to Washington this week.

As unlikely as that is for someone who would be at the absolute bottom of the congressional seniority system, Ogonowski said he wasn't dodging a loaded question but showing the kind of fresh thinking Congress needs.

"People are upset with Washington right now and they see me as a true outsider," he said outside a Chelmsford Dunkin' Donuts where he handed literature to customers waiting in the drive-thru line.

Jabbing his finger toward his heart, he added: "Everything I've spoken on comes right from here."

Tsongas holds the lead and all logic dictates a Democrat in Massachusets would win an incumbent seat.

But let the spin begin.

If Ogonowski pulls off an upset, it'll be dismissed as some fluke, quickly relegated to the back of the news cycle, if it's even widely reported.

If Tsongas wins, it'll be top news, a harbinger of things to come in 2008, and Tsongas will be delivering the Democrat rebuttal to Bush's next radio address.

UPDATE 9:58 pm: Tsongas wins

LOWELL, Mass. --The widow of 1992 presidential candidate Paul Tsongas defeated the brother of an American Airlines pilot slain in the Sept. 11 terror attacks Tuesday in the special election to replace Democrat Martin Meehan in the U.S. House.

Democrat Niki Tsongas of Lowell edged Republican Jim Ogonowski of Dracut, whose brother John died when his plane was hijacked and flown in the World Trade Center. With 170 of 195 precincts reporting, she had 51 percent of the vote to 46 percent for Ogonowski.

Tsongas, 61, could be sworn in as early as Wednesday to fill the seat once held by her late husband. The seat was left empty in July when Democrat Martin Meehan resigned to become chancellor of his alma mater, the University of Massachusetts-Lowell.

UPDATE II: Jules Crittenden isn't impressed, though as predicted, it's big news now.