The Massachusetts governor’s race devolved into a mess of accusations and political mudslinging on Thursday when independent candidate Tim Cahill filed a lawsuit against three former and aides and strategists, accusing them of plotting to share information with Republican rival Charlie Baker, as well as causing the defection of Cahill’s running mate, Paul Loscocco, who is now endorsing Baker.
Loscocco then countered these attacks by claiming that Cahill’s campaign has been working directly with Democratic candidate Deval Patrick’s senior strategist in order to organize a campaign against Baker. With all the accusations being thrown around, it is almost impossible at this point to separate truth from rumor.
The amount of back-room dealing that has come to light is truly a shameful example of the worst side of American politics. If the accusations are not true, then at best we are facing a situation of smear campaigns and petty rumormongering. And if they are, then the underhanded corruption will prove to be a discredit to all candidates involved. But even worse than being a case of politicians acting irresponsibly, the situation has left voters with no idea of whom they should trust.
The most drastic consequence of the accusations will be their effect on voter turnout on Election Day. Since the accusations have surfaced, many voters have reported feeling frustrated with all of the candidates and disillusioned about the entire election. This will most likely translate into lower voting rates, with citizens unwilling to vote for any of the candidates.
Those registered to vote in the election come November should not let these unfortunate circumstances deter them from casting their ballot. Although the situation is regrettable, it is still crucial to vote for the candidate who will do the best job representing the people of Massachusetts. Hopefully by the time Election Day rolls around, voters will have a better picture of the truth in order to make the most well-informed decision possible.
It is sad that this is what the governor’s race has boiled down to. As one of the more prominent three candidate races in the country, Massachusetts had a chance to set an example for the rest of the country by showing that there can be an alternative to the typical Republican vs. Democrat battles for office. But instead, the candidates have chosen to resort to personal attacks, partisan bickering and corruption, drawing attention away from the issues and toward the candidates’ personal failings.
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