A new Rasmussen poll of Massachusetts finds that the state’s voters agree with Sen. Ted Kennedy that the governor should be able to make an appointment to a vacant Senate seat.
Respondents were first asked an open question about whether there should be a gubernatorial appointment or a special election to fill a vacant seat. At first, the answer was widely for elections at 66%, with 27% in favor of appointment.
But then the question was rephrased: “Under Massachusetts law a special election is held to fill an open senate seat. While waiting for a special election should the governor appoint an interim senator?” In this case, 52% approved of an interim Senate appointment by the governor, with only 40% against it.
The truly interesting part here is that Massachusetts law used to provide for gubernatorial appointment, and then an election at the next regular Congressional cycle, until 2004. The law was changed when John Kerry was the Democratic nominee for President, while Republican Mitt Romney was governor. Ultimately, Kerry didn’t win that presidential election, and this change in the law appears to have had a serious unintended consequence for Democrats.
Rasmussen makes clear in the polling analysis that Ted Kennedy’s name was not mentioned in the poll in any way. But chances are, the voters have seen enough news coverage to know what’s going on — for example, Democrats widely favor the change to the law, and Republicans oppose it.
