Implications

Voters are eccentric. The same Massachusetts electorate interupted the terms of Republican Governor John Volpe in the 60's by electing a Democrat, then ousted Governor Dukakis in a primary challenge by a premature Reagan Democrat only to restore Mike for two more terms.

It's risky to read too much of a national trend into any one by election vote. After all, the last time Massachusetts voted a Republican to the Senate was 1972... The same year they stood alone against Nixon.

If Brown wins today, he'll have to stand again in 2012 against a more competent and motivated opponent.