Can you make someone become a candidate for an office that he isn't interested in pursuing?
That's what Kevin Kennedy wants to do to Anthony
Pollina, using the Internet to organize a write-in campaign to essentially "draft"
Pollina to the lieutenant governor's race.
Why would Kennedy do this? Because he thinks -- as do others -- that a three-way race for governor assures the re-election of Jim Douglas. And Kennedy of Marlboro doesn't want that outcome.
So he has set out to change the candidate lineup, not only for governor, but also for lieutenant governor. He believe
Pollina would have a better shot at defeating Republican Brian
Dubie than Tom Costello or Nate Freeman, the two Democrats who have to duke it out in a primary before facing the incumbent lieutenant governor in November.
Kennedy wants to build a movement, using a newly launched Web site, to write in
Pollina's name for lieutenant
governor on the Democratic ballot in the primary election on Sept. 9. He estimates only 20,000 people would have to write in
Pollina's name to make him the winner.
Of course,
Pollina could decline the offer and continue to pursue his top-of-the-ticket dream. Judging by the reaction from his campaign manager, he doesn't appreciate this initiative.
"It
isn’t helping our effort," complained Meg Brook,
Pollina’s campaign manager.
Couldn't reach Costello or Freeman, but I can't imagine they would appreciate being bumped off.
So what's gained by this? Kennedy said he couldn't just sit on sidelines and watch a "slow-motion political train wreck." You can read the rest of his justification
here.-- Nancy
Remsen
