Q&A #3 -- What About Lida?

"Frank" asks via email:

If Peter Smulowitz fails to pick up the Scott Brown's state senate seat on May 11th, how much blame will go to state rep. Lida Harkins, who has all but endorsed the Republican in the race? Will there be any consequences for Harkins -- like losing her chair of the Needham Town Committee? Or will the Party just allow these local bosses to do what they like?

Although some in the party are annoyed that Harkins has been so public about not endorsing Smulowitz after he beat her in the primary, most of the insiders are more annoyed with Smulowitz for what they see as unfair, out-of-bounds attacks on her. (I have more about the Smulowitz-Harkin race and what it may say about the party coming in this week's issue of the Boston Phoenix.) Those insiders would likely blame his loss on (in their opinion) the negative impression he made for himself among voters by his ugly tactics. In any case, I certainly don't see her getting punished by the local Needham Dems.