EaBo Clipper

Reading today's Globe poll shows that Kerry Healey is right on the issues that concern Massachusetts voters and Deval Patrick is woefully out of touch. It's also been a good week for Healey as she's gained 5 points on Deval. As more and more people see what Deval is really about, the more that number will move. 5 points a week gives Healey the election.

The poll's author agrees that Kerry is right on the issues:

* While Healey is faring very poorly in the head-to-head match-up with Patrick, the positions she supports on various issues are more popular than those supported by Patrick. The most visible tax related issue in the campaign is the roll-back of the state income tax from 5.3% to 5%. Half of MA voters support Healey’s position of rolling back the income tax to 5% (36% strongly and 14% somewhat), 40% oppose the roll-back (23% strongly and 17% somewhat), 6% are neutral and 5% don’t know.
* Support for the roll-back is widespread. Republicans and Healey voters are most supportive of the roll-back.
* Democrats, O’Brien voters, voters with post-graduate educations, those making $75K to $100K, and non-religious voters are most opposed to the roll-back.

* When asked if they supported or opposed a proposal to require voters provide a photo ID in order to vote, voters clearly back Healey’s position – 47% strongly support requiring a photo ID, 21% support this somewhat, 5% are neutral, 13% oppose it somewhat, 11% strongly oppose, and 3% don’t know.
* Republicans, Healey voters, and voters in Central MA are most likely to strongly support photo IDs.
 However, even majorities of even Democrats support this idea.

* Another issue where Healey holds the more popular position is opposing a proposal to let students of undocumented immigrants pay in-state tuition at MA state colleges and universities. Only 30% of MA voters support in-state tuition for the children of undocumented immigrants (15% strongly and 15% somewhat), 59% oppose (44% strongly and 15% somewhat), 6% are neutral and 4% don’t know.
* This issue represents an opportunity for Healey as it is opposed by most groups of voters, especially by Republicans, older voters, low income voters, Catholics, and voters from Central MA.

* Similarly, 63% of MA voters oppose issuing drivers licenses to undocumented immigrants (51% strongly and 12% somewhat) -- Healey’s position. Only 29% support this proposal (14% strongly and 15% somewhat), 4% are neutral and 4% don’t know.
* This issue also represents an opportunity for Healey as most voters oppose this idea, especially Republicans, Independents, Mihos voters, voters with lower levels of education, and voters in Central MA.

* Almost two-thirds of MA voters (64%) do NOT favor Patrick’s position of limiting criminal offender record information (CORI) to businesses, only 23% favor limiting this information and 13% don’t know.
* This is another issue which favors Healey as majorities of all voters, including Democrats and Patrick voters, oppose sharply limiting criminal background information.

The task for those of us who support the LG is to hammer those points home in every conversation we have about this race, even to those who like Patrick. If voters begin to see beyond the smooth pretty boy image, it will crack and voters will move to Healey.

Remember with Patrick Together We Can... Raise Taxes.