The Globe reports today what Scotto Brown writes in his memoir about the mysterious day back in September '09 when he showed up at a Republican State Committee meeting, where he was expected to announce his Senate candidacy, and instead this happened, as I blogged at that night:
As is being reported, the news out of that GOP meeting is that Card is 50% likelyhood of running for Senate, and Scott Brown, who previously said he's 90% likely, now says he won't run if Card runs. A source at the GOP meeting tells me the whole thing was "a cluster." Card got up and seemed to announce his candidacy (to much applause), but then said no, no, I'm only announcing that I'm seriously thinking about it and will make a decision after 9-11. Oh, and by the way, that shouldn't keep anyone else from running. Like Scott Brown.
And then Card turned the floor over to Brown. Brown, you might have heard, has essentially already launched his campaign but said that he couldn't make it official until after today's hearing on the senate-appointment bill because of the potential conflict of interest, whatever that means. But apparently he must not have known about Card's interest, because he said that he won't run if Card runs -- and so, instead of announcing his candidacy, Brown will have to wait for a while to see what Card decides.
In other words, the Massachusetts GOP only has roughly three people who could possibly run a legitimate statewide campaign, and they still can't get straight who's running for what. (Oh, and by the way, has nobody mentioned to Card that George W. Bush's former chief-of-staff will get SLAUGHTERED in a Mass. Senate race? At least Brown would be a good candidate and face of the state party; Card would be a freaking disaster.)
According to the Globe, Brown writes that the great and powerful Ron Kaufman picked him up earlier that day "in a dark sport utility vehicle with tinted windows" to escort him to meet with Card, who dropped the bombshell that he was thinking about running.
Brown ultimately agreed to defer, even though he knew -- and told Card -- that he would beat him in the primary. Which is correct. But defering would have been Brown's smart move, because let's face it, nobody thought he could actually win the general election anyway.
So, if Card had run, Brown would have sat out, Coakley would have slaughtered Card, and the world would be a different place today.
All of which we pretty much knew, but it's interesting to get Brown's take on how it all actually went down behind the scenes.
Latest Slideshows
