Who will run against Sen. Scott Brown (R-MA) in 2012?
Don't know? Me neither. And apparently neither does anyone else.
So along came Jon Hite, who launched a Facebook page suggesting that MA resident and MSNBC broadcaster Rachel Maddow consider running. In a few days, more than a thousand people have signed on at Rachel Maddow for US Senator from Massachusetts in 2012. But this is no ordinary Facebook buzzbuilding effort. Already, the effort has drawn some of the kinds of people who can make things happen in Massachusetts. These include state Democratic Party Chair John Walsh; Vice Chair Deb Kozikowski, Easthampton Mayor Michael Tautznik; Northampton Mayor Clare Higgins; Worcester state rep candidate Margot Barnet, and former Northampton City Councilor and radio broadcaster Bill Dwight.
Maddow has given no indication that she is even remotely interested. But party chair Walsh apparently wanted to find out. When he sent Maddow a direct message on Twitter, accidentally sent it to everyone on his Twitter list.
Accident or buzz builder? Either way, it seems to be working.
Whats more, we have already shown that a lot of us would like Maddow to seriously consider it. And the numbers will certainly grow, as will the significant people in public life who join the Facebook group. But even if Maddow ultimately decides not to go for it, we are opening up important conversations about the 2012 Senate race. And that is a good thing.