10 or So Enter, 2 Leave

It looks like the state Senate race is down to Brian Knuuttila and Jen Flanagan after Dean Mazzarella said today he's out (as first reported at the Fitchburg Pride/Leominster Champion websites this morning). There are still a few folks out there -- namely Dean Tran and Gregg Lisciotti, but this might just about be the field.

In some ways, it's not surprising that what was once a consideration field of about 10 is down to two. I'm only surprised it's not three or four. Some folks, like Steve DiNatale, would obviously have been sticking their necks waaaay out there, and did the smart thing. Others, like Mazz and maybe Hank Naughton, were really torn.

It will be interesting to see what happens in the next few months before nomination papers are due. She won't talk about it, and shouldn't, but Flanagan has to at least consider backing out at some point if things are rolling her way early. Knuuttila has nothing to lose. Flanagan loses this, she's out her House seat, to boot, unless she can pull off some kind of unlikely sticker/write-in campaign.

Flanagan has showed some intestinal fortitude in all this. She was the first one absolutely in, and she pulled the Antonioni endorsement card as a way to get the inside rail out of the gate. It probably led to some candidates having second thoughts. While others were thinking about it, she acted, swift and certain. You have to like that.

But there's going to be days soon when Flanagan at least has that passing thought ... "should I, or shouldn't I." It's so easy to take the easy way out. But Knuuttila is no dinosaur. If it doesn't happen for her now, when will it?

I hate to speculate on Flanagan bailing (yes, I know, I just spent three paragraphs on it), because she has given no indication she's going to. But now that the field is just about set, it's worth mentioning. And really, who hasn't thought it?

Here's hoping she stays in. I think Knuuttila and Flanagan are pretty even. They have good bases, good experience, and will likely run good, energized campaigns. It's going to be fun to watch.