New Jersey and Virginia did it in November; solidly rejecting the liberal tax and spend ideology that has defined the first year of the Obama administration. The voters in those states chose Republicans in their gubernatorial elections and now the voters of Massachusetts have the chance to send an even louder message in the January 19 special election to fill the late Senator Ted Kennedy's seat.

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The race between State Attorney General Martha Coakley, the Democrat, and State Senator Scott Brown, the Republican, was supposed to be a cakewalk for Ms. Coakley. That seat has been solidly in Democratic hands since John F. Kennedy defeated Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr. in 1952 but Ms. Coakley's lead is down to just 9 points (50% to 41% with 7% still undecided) in the latest poll of likely voters. Mr. Brown is ahead 65% to 21% among the all important Independent voters. (source)

Further proof that this election is much closer than anyone in the Coakley Camp expected is a fundraising appeal sent by the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee on Saturday which read in part, "Polls are tightening in Massachusetts, and America's future hangs on getting Martha Coakley elected to Ted Kennedy's seat on Jan. 19. Winning this special election means passing health care reform and the rest of President Obama's agenda... Republican Scott Brown is within striking distance...Keeping this seat blue is critical. Coakley is the 60th vote needed to pass health care and the rest of President Obama's agenda." (source)

In addition to health care reform, the issues in the race are the same most of the nation is facing on the state and federal levels of government: Ms. Coakley favors the tax and spend entitlement policies of the far left. She also agrees with the Obama administration's decision to try terrorists in civilian courts. Mr. Brown wants to cut spending and taxes and disapproves of the civilian trials for terrorists policy.

The immediate effect of a Brown victory could be the Democrats falling one vote short of the 60 they need to pass Obamacare although they would most likely try to delay Brown's swearing in until they ram that unpopular piece of legislation through. But the long term effect would be an even louder and more chilling rebuke to the Obama machine than was sent by New Jersey and Virginal voters. A Republican senator in such a dependably blue state would be further proof to those currently in power that they are not providing the type of government the American people want and were promised. Even a Coakley victory by a smaller than 10 point margin will send a message that Washington should be unable to ignore.

In the past year we have seen how single party rule can lead to blatant corruption and complete disregard for the Constitution and the will of the American people. The one promise Candidate Obama has kept as President Obama is his willingness to remake America. The voters of Massachusetts will have a chance on January 19 to say no to the policies and legislation that would allow him to remake America into something the founders would not recognize. I hope they don't squander that opportunity.