Large voter turnout unsettles small races
Although he won easily in the Democratic primary, James M. Cantwell is running hard against independent John M. Valianti, a well-known Marshfield businessman, in the race for the open House seat from Marshfield and Scituate.
With the election just over a week away, Cantwell, a longtime Democratic activist and former Marshfield selectman, has been going door to door, running ads in local media, and standing out on Route 139 with supporters early each morning to greet passing motorists.
"We expect there will be four times as many people voting in this election," Cantwell said. "There isn't enough time to be physically at every door in the district, so I go out door to door with other people helping."
The presidential election, as well as three controversial statewide ballot questions, should bring droves of voters to the polls on Nov. 4. The big turnout will create uncertainty in some of the races lower on the ballot, including legislative and county posts.
"A lot of people will go into the booth and vote for president and then look down the ballot, and if they don't know who the candidates are, they won't vote for any of them," said John P. Cafferty, a Republican state committeeman from Hingham.
Valianti, a former city councilor in Marlborough who now lives in Marshfield, said the dynamics of this year's election favor an independent.
"Today, it's all about change," said Valianti, who has been campaigning door to door for months. "For me, running as an independent, it's going to help."
In a high-turnout election, it is important to be visible to voters, said state Representative Joseph R. Driscoll Jr., a Braintree Democrat who is facing Richard A. Moran of Braintree, who is unenrolled. "I think going door to door and holding signs is a good way to get name recognition," he said.
Moran, a former Braintree Town Meeting representative, has also been going door to door. He has been running as a more moderate alternative to Driscoll.
With polls showing Barack Obama leading John McCain nationally and in Massachusetts, Democrats up and down the ballot stand to benefit, said George Serra, a political scientist at Bridgewater State College.
"There is often a coattail effect, but coattails typically have gotten smaller," Serra said. "On the other hand, . . . we know there is a groundswell of concern about the economy. This is clearly not a good year to be running as a Republican in any state."
Robert T. Joy, chairman of the Plymouth County Democratic League, seconds that notion, saying the presdential race will give a big lift to local Democrats. "I believe there is going to be a big turnout, and most of the people I talk to are for Obama," Joy said.
But Cafferty questions that assumption, pointing out that McCain has been popular in Massachusetts, especially in Plymouth County and the South Shore.
Among the more noteworthy races in the region are:
Norfolk County: Republican Thomas E. Gorman of Dedham is running for county commissioner on a platform of abolishing county government. Gorman, who ran unsuccessfully for the post two years ago, is vying with Democratic incumbents Francis W. O'Brien of Dedham and John M. Gillis of Quincy and independent Michael F. Walsh of Westwood in a four-way race for two seats.
Plymouth County: Republican Edward J. O'Connell of Marshfield is challenging incumbent Thomas J. O'Brien of Kingston for county treasurer. A four-way race for two seats on the Plymouth County Commission features incumbent Democrat John Patrick Riordan of Marshfield, Republican Ronald K. Davy of Hull, Democrat Anthony Thomas O'Brien of Whitman, and Scott M. Vecchi of Plymouth, who is unenrolled.
Fourth Norfolk: Republican Robert Montgomery Thomas of Weymouth is challenging Representative James M. Murphy, Democrat of Weymouth.
Fifth Norfolk: Richard A. Moran of Braintree, unenrolled, is challenging incumbent Representative Joseph R. Driscoll Jr., Democrat of Braintree.
First Plymouth: Democrat Jay D. Ferguson of Plymouth, a write-in candidate in the primary, is challenging Representative Vinny M. deMacedo, Republican of Plymouth.
Ninth Plymouth: Democrat Michael D. Brady of Brockton is facing Republican Lawrence P. Novak of Brockton.
Second Plymouth & Bristol: Representative Thomas P. Kennedy, Democrat of Brockton, is unopposed for the seat held by Democrat Robert S. Creedon Jr.
Robert Preer can be reached at preer@globe.com. 