That was the last year a Republican won the "Kennedy seat".

Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr. held the seat from 1947 to 1953, before a guy named John F. Kennedy beat him. After resigning the seat to take over the presidency, Benjamin Smith was appointed for two years. The seat then returned to the family, as Ted Kennedy won a 1962 special election and served in that capacity for nearly the next 47 years.

Following his death, it is a special election that may take it away, in the bluest of states, from the Democrats.

The last time a Republican held either one of the Senate seats in the Commonwealth was 1979, when Edward Brooke lost a re-election big to Paul Tsongas. And so it was written that Democrats shall be the voice of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Well, not so fast my friend.

As I write this sentence, the polls open in about 15 minutes, for a special election that, you'll have to pardon me for the insensitivity here, could be seismic in American politics. Yes, I understand that this seemingly pales in comparison to the devastation this weekend, but in the United States, many would say this election means life or death. If you are to believe the arguments that thousands of Americans die do to lacking health care coverage, well, this special election can mean life or death.

Republican Scott Brown, a state Senator, is a fiscal conservative who has pledged to be the "41st vote against health care." Right now, Brown appears poised to make that vote. As I noted last night, Brown has found his way to double-digit leads in several polls, an unthinkable feat considering that just a week ago he was in the neighborhood of 17 points down.

Here are Politico's "Five Things to Look for" in today's special election, one that purely comes down to voter turnout, as these things often do.

The candidates crossed the snow-covered state yesterday, making their final pitches to voters, with Martha Coakley hoping that her last pitch wasn't bad knowledge of the Boston Red Sox.

The finger pointing is well underway in the Democratic party. How in the world could this happen.

Undoubtedly the Fix will have great coverage all day. As quite likely will FiveThirtyEight. By the way, there is truthful mention on that site that the State of the Union will be held Jan. 27, meaning it will not conflict with the premiere of Lost.

I'll be around throughout the day, but especially on Twitter.


And, on a bright and cheery note, could a Mariners deal with Felix Hernandez be imminent?