Race of the Day: Barney Frank in 'the fight of his life'
Out-of-nowhere Republican Sean Bielat is giving long-serving Massachusetts congressman Barney Frank a run for his money
Name & Party:
DEMOCRAT
Barney Frank
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REPUBLICAN
Sean Bielat
Basic Info:
Fifteen-term incumbent
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Age: 70
Consultant, Marine Corps major
Age: 35
Issues:
- Wants to raise taxes on richest Americans
- Supports repeal of "Don't ask don't tell"
- Voted for bank bailout
- Wants to extend Bush tax cuts for all Americans
- Says further study is needed on DADT
- Would have let big banks fail
Polling At:49%37%Campaign Chest:$1.1 million$365,000Key Quote:"I do not intend to be ambushed by the kind of right-wing smears that assailed John Kerry in 2004.""There are few individuals more responsible [for the financial crisis] than Congressman Frank."Petty Controversy:Frank's boyfriend James Ready alledgedly heckled Bielat during a media interviewBielat was "outed" as a former Democrat by a local news siteWild card:After Scott Brown's Senate victory last year, Massachusetts Republicans are feeling newly emboldened.
Dueling Ads:N/A"Banks": This ad argues that "you can bail out regular people or bail out the banks — and Barney chose the banks."
Sean Bielat's "Banks":
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