The election on Nov. 2 is just about a week away. But for many people, especially anyone who likes baseball, an upcoming World Series has more of their concentration.
This year is very special for many college students across the country. They will see and do the amazing this year. Of course, the obvious is they will be voting in their first election. For sophomores and juniors, though, it will be their first presidential election.
Then there is what kids have grown up seeing, a losing Red Sox team.
Students entering college this year were also born the same year the Sox last made it to the World Series.
Kids these days have grown up hearing all about the curse of the Bambino. Not this year.Boston beat the Yankees in what many now considered to be one of the greatest series ever played. Maybe even good enough to be on the same list as the U.S. hockey team’s upset over the USSR.
All this has taken the presidential election to the back many people’s minds. And those local politicians hoping to get elected aren’t even being thought about.
In Boston at this time of year the Red Sox are the spotlight. This means that local politicians running have to be much more creative than many of there equals in other states. Commercials are worthless on game night unless they’re on the same network as the game and that’s to expensive. A 30-second ad runs for $100,000 just for local play. During the Yankee-Red Sox series, 70 percent of the TVs in Boston were tuned to the game.
This year particularly gives an advantage to incumbents running.
In a recent interview with the Enterprise, State Sen. Robert S. Creedon Jr. said, “All incumbents root for the Red Sox to do well. It’s the finest of distractions.” He means that.
In past elections, as long as either the Patriots or Red Sox go into the playoffs Boston citizens like their current politicians just fine.
And politicians know thismany watch and attend the games all season.
In a study at UMass of the 1990 seasons when both the Red Sox and Patroits bombed their season, away incumbents were few and far between after the election.
Ned Kirby, another local politician challenging for a seat, feels luckier than ever. Needing a good fundraiser and major improvements in votes, Kirby scheduled a fundraiser for Oct. 22 thinking the Sox would have just fallen out of the playoffs. October 22 has now ended up being one day before the World Series and, to beat that, Kirby got four baseballs to action off from, Curt Schilling, Johnny Damon, Pedro Martinez and Trot Nixon. “It was a coincidence. We got lucky on that stretch of things,” Kirby said to the Enterprise newspaper.
Incumbents now hope the good luck with the Sox continues. Many would love to see all seven games played. Game seven is scheduled to take place two days before the election and if Boston wins a celebration would happen on Election Day with many of the incumbents feeling the joy would carry over to their reelection.
House Speaker Sal DiMasi already knows he won’t be the main talk at his own fundraiser later this week. “The Red Sox will be No. 1, and my race No. 2,” he said. The campaign volunteers that call your home at night or send letters to you also love the Red Sox. Campaigns are scarce with workers by 8 p.m. and everyone thinks night-time campaigning will be done in time for the World Series.

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