Why is this man still smiling?
Massachusetts Senate candidate and political neophyte Gabriel Gomez is learning the hard way that politics ain't beanbag, proving himself not ready for a run for U.S. Senate.
- Last week's tax scam scandal continued to dog Gomez. As a refresher, back in 2005, Gomez granted an easement on his $2+ million home, agreeing to not make changes to the facade of the historic house and getting an income tax deduction of more than $280,000 for the "donation." But local bylaws prevent him from making those changes anyway—he got a very hefty deduction for giving up absolutely nothing. He's steadfastly refused to answer any questions about this deduction, which has just led to more questions, and the news that he stiffed a guy he hired to do an appraisal on the house in order to obtain that deduction. The guy's appraisal wasn't rich enough for Gomez, so he refused to accept it, and refused to pay the $1,000 fee for the appraisal. All of which makes it very hard for this private-equity millionaire guy to assume the aw-shucks Scott Brown regular-guy mantle he's going to need to win over independents.
- Gomez isn't going to be making any political gains with women voters, after his disastrous interview this week with the Boston Globe. The Globe asked for the interview, which was specifically about women's issues, because Gomez had been so vague on the campaign trail on where he stood on women's health issues and on the War on Women in general. In the interview, Gomez proved himself to be uninterested, uneducated, and uninformed on every issue. He seemingly didn't even bother to prepare for the interview, and told the Globe that "he hardly expects such issues to consume him at a time when he is focused on jobs, the economy, education, and veterans." Got that, women? He doesn't have time to worry about you. He's got manly things to focus on.
- Then there was this, Gomez's histrionic meltdown over a Markey ad that used video of Gomez himself declaring his opposition to an assault weapons ban or a ban on high-capacity magazines. In a combination of misplaced grandiosity and desperation, Gomez tried to say that Markey was blaming Gomez for the Newtown shootings. As if an as-of-yet political nobody's (albeit a really rich one) views on gun safety had anything to do with Newtown, and as if Markey's ad said that at all. Which it didn't.
- His really big problem, though, after some polls had shown him closing in on Markey, is that he's now becoming better known to Massachusetts voters. And they're liking him less.
Gomez's net favorability has dropped 6 points in last 2 weeks from +14 to now +8 at 42/34. From 33/32 to 20/52 w/D's:
http://t.co/...
— @ppppolls via web
Let's keep Gomez's week a bad one. Please pitch in $3 to Ed Markey.
4:22 PM PT: Here's one I missed before, another person he hired to do a job at his house getting stiffed: in 2008, his plumber had to take him to small claims court to get his bill for fixing a toilet the year before paid. Yeah, Gomez is a real man of the people.