Retail politics
Among my tropes is the story of how my mother voted for a School Committee candidate simply because he had gone to school with me (as I remember we read the Iliad together as seniors [Class I as we were known then]). While this is an example of Boston's tribalism, a few other stories point to the expectations that that tribalism places on officeholders and candidates.
I grew up on Princeton Street in East Boston, about half a dozen doors from one of our State Representatives. Princeton Street is not a main drag. In fact, with cars parked at both curbs it is a little more than one lane wide. But, while he was in office, Princeton Street was plowed before Lexington (which is two lane) every snowfall.
I missed seeing John Kennedy in East Boston's Columbus Day parade during his presidential campaign because I was climbing fences (as I remember there was a balance beam test coming up at Cub Scouts). I don't know if his appearance changed my mother's vote.
Twenty years after I left East Boston, Madam and I were living in Springfield during a close mayoral campaign. I voted for the candidate who made the effort to speak at our synagogue (that he also had made time to be interviewed by a stringer for a couple of minor papers also helped swing my decision; I got three or four articles out of that interview).
To be clear, Kevin and the mayoral candidate still had to say the right things about issues, and the rep had to deliver more than a plowed neighborhood street. Kennedy could have garnered more media appearing elsewhere. However, they all were expected to be accessible, to be seen and measured.
I grew up on Princeton Street in East Boston, about half a dozen doors from one of our State Representatives. Princeton Street is not a main drag. In fact, with cars parked at both curbs it is a little more than one lane wide. But, while he was in office, Princeton Street was plowed before Lexington (which is two lane) every snowfall.
I missed seeing John Kennedy in East Boston's Columbus Day parade during his presidential campaign because I was climbing fences (as I remember there was a balance beam test coming up at Cub Scouts). I don't know if his appearance changed my mother's vote.
Twenty years after I left East Boston, Madam and I were living in Springfield during a close mayoral campaign. I voted for the candidate who made the effort to speak at our synagogue (that he also had made time to be interviewed by a stringer for a couple of minor papers also helped swing my decision; I got three or four articles out of that interview).
To be clear, Kevin and the mayoral candidate still had to say the right things about issues, and the rep had to deliver more than a plowed neighborhood street. Kennedy could have garnered more media appearing elsewhere. However, they all were expected to be accessible, to be seen and measured.