OK, Massachusetts Democratic State Conventions are often snooze-a-thons. The only reason for this year's convention was to endorse a candidate for US Senate. Candidates also need 15% of the vote to qualify for the primary ballot in September.
Incumbent John Kerry, who hasn't faced a primary battle since winning the seat in 1984, had hoped to avoid one this year by keeping Challenger Ed O'Reilly under 15%. O'Reilly gathered 22% of the vote and will be on the September ballot. Ooops!
With a manic high-energy nominating speech, Gloucester lawyer (and ex-fireman and ex-lobstahman) Ed O'Reilly roused a sleepy bored crowd. Proclaiming that "Yes, my candidacy is a nuisance. Democracy is a nuisance", O'Reilly garnered far more than the necessary 15%.
Kerry had hope to completely avoid re-election battle. Last week the Republican's favored candidate, Jim Ogonowski, failed to collect the 10,000 signatures necessary to run; leaving only Republican long-shot on the ballot. Long shot O'Reilly could make for an interesting Summer for Senator Kerry.
In the end I don't think this will be more than a minor nuisance and time waster for Kerry.