Politics & Government

SNAP POLL: Massachusetts Republicans Say Ryan Will Energize Campaign

Patch asked political influencers state-wide to react to the news Paul Ryan will be Mitt Romney's running mate.

An overwhelming majority of influential Republicans from Massachusetts say Mitt Romney's choice of running mate Paul Ryan, will galvanize the state GOP: that’s the finding of a Red Commonwealth Snap Poll survey of influential conservatives sent out after Saturday morning's announcement.

When Patch asked Massachusetts Republicans if Paul Ryan as vice president would help the undecided voters in the state, the answers were split down the middle with half saying they strongly agree and the other half saying they strongly disagree.

"He is incredibly smart and can convey concepts in easy-to-understand language," one respondent said was an advantage to having Ryan on the Romney ticket.

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Others noted Ryan's youth, ability to articulate himself and perception of being a family man as reasons Ryan is a good choice.

"He's an articulate yet forceful proponent of the necessity to dramatically change America's cultural/economic/political paradigm in order to avoid the malaise produced by said paradigm that is slowly destroying Europe," one person answered.

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Massachusetts political influencers surveyed said they disagree that Democrats will be able to win against Romney and Ryan by running against Ryan's budget plans and proposal for Medicare.

Those surveyed did agree that the choice would also galvanize Democrats in the state and nation-wide.

Those surveyed also noted Ryan will be able to inject new energy into the campaign.

"Paul Ryan will appeal to many more voters in MA than people think. He's smart, relatable and isn't afraid to call out the current administration," one respondent said.

Another person answered: "Ryan's appointment signals that Romney intends to make the 2012 election a referendum on the direction of the country. Either voters choose another four years of European-styled socialism by voting for Obama or they choose to reverse course and double down on American exceptionalism by voting for Romney. Ryan will force the public itself to debate on which way America will go."

Red Commonwealth Survey

Our surveys are not a scientific, random sample of any larger population, but rather an effort to listen to a group of influential local Republican activists, party leaders, candidates and elected officials in Massachusetts. All of these individuals have agreed to participate in Massachusetts’s Patch’s surveys, although not all responded to this story’s questions.

Patch will be conducting Red Commonwealth and Blue Commonwealth surveys throughout the 2012 election season in hopes of determining the true sentiment of conservatives and progressives on the ground in Massachusetts. If you are an activist, party leader or elected official and would like to take part in periodic surveys that last just a few minutes, please contact Associate Regional Editor Katie Curley-Katzman at Katherine@patch.com.

Red Commonwealth Survey Roster: Patrick Rahilly (North Andover lawyer), Chris Barrett (former Romney staffer, Lynnfield), Tom Terranova (Lynnfield CPA), Jack Buba (Marblehead Republican Committee), Amy Carnevale (Chair of Marblehead Republican Committee), Sharon Randall (Marblehead Republican Committee), Rosemary Smedile (North Andover Republican), Bernie Green (Medford Republican Committee), Mark Crowley (Medford Republican Committee), David Carnevale (former state senate candidate from Medford), John Dorr (small business owner from Medford), Jim Morse (retired firefighter, Medford), Don Ordway (Tewksbury GOP committee), Doug Sears (Tewksbury Republican), Jeff Stinson (Hamilton selectman, political director for Richard Tisei), Brad Hill (State Representative), Elaine Appel (Hamilton Republican Committee), Harriet Davis (former selectman from Wenham), Randy Hunt (State Representative), Bill Doherty (County Commissioner, Cape Cod), John McCarthy (Peabody Republican), Jarrod Hochman (Peabody Republican), Chuck Holden (Peabody Republican), Scott Frasca (Peabody Republican), Evan Kenney (Republican Caucus alternate, Wakefield), Joseph O'Keefe (Salem city councilor), Tracy Lawrence (Salem Republican), Sean O'Brien (Salem Republican Committee), Todd Siegel (Salem city councilor), George Gerogountzos (candidate for state representative, Stoneham), Monica Medeiros (Melrose Republican Committee), Ted Cinella (Melrose Republican Committee), Andrew Applegate (Suffolk University), Chad Heipler (infrastructure manager), Meg Rowan (Republican), Teresa Perrier (Republican), Katelyn Regan (West Roxbury Republican), Brad Williams (GOP chair), John Golnik (Westford U.S. House of Representatives candidate), Tim Regan (Charlestown Republican), Lisa J. Murray (DMD), Lindsay DiNatale (Charlestown Republican), Ted Owens (Needham Republican), Alan Reiss (Wayland Republican), John Toto (Wayland Republican), Sue Pope (Wayland Republican), Kent George (Wayland Republican), John DiMascio (Watertown Republican), James Ridge (Watertown Republican), Steve Aylward (state committee), Laurie McManus (Watertown Republican committee), Francis Stanton (candidate for state rep.), Gerry Dembrowski (Woburn candidate), Evan Rice (Republican committee member), Dean Carvaretta (Acton candidate for state rep.), Jesse Segovia (Acton Republican), Michael Prisco (North Reading selectman), Bob Mauceri (selectman), Ben Tafoya (selectman), Jim Hatherly (town committee), Nancy Quimby (town committee), Brian McCarty (Sommerville town committee), Peter Nicolas (Marblehead Town Committee), Brad Marston (Beacon Hill Republican), Joe Selvaggi (Beacon Hill Republican), Steven Jeffries (Beacon Hill Republican), Allan Zenowitz (state committee), Vonnie Boyle (state committee), Joseph Zarrella (Braintree, State House intern), Jim Powell (Martha's Vineyard Republican), Krista Lynch (North Andover Republican), Wayne Comeau (Danvers Town Committee), Dan Bennett (Danvers selectman), Val Wormell (Westford selectman), Angel Connell (Westford Republican), McKenzie-Hebert (Shrewsbury Republican), Ken Weisman (Hopkinton Republican), Brian Major (Andover Republican), James Lyons (state rep.), Alex Vispoli (Andover selectman), Paul Adams (candidate for state rep.), Marty Scafidi (Peabody Republican), Dick Gilmore (Danvers lawyer), Tom Weaver (candidate for Congress), Dylan Hayre (Westford Republican), Mario Marchese (Wilmington Town Committee), Dean Cavaretta (state sen. candidate), Philip Mitza (Sommerville activist), Thomas Vasconcelos (state rep. candidate), Richard Wise, (Salem Republican Committee), Michael Morales (Medford committee member), Mary Connaughton (Framingham Republican), Ed McGrath (state committee), James Bonazoli (Reading Selectman), Doug Obey (Westwood Town Committee), Ed Niell (Westwood Town Committee), Frank Herschede (Danvers Republican), Eleanor Hersey (Framingham Republican), Janet Leombruno (Framingham Republican, MA Republican State Committee)


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