Q&A #1 -- Worcester Power?

"James" starts off Ask Me Anything Day via email:

What happened to the much celebrated "Worcester Power" of 2010?  Will it show up anywhere in 2012?  Can we get a senate candidate from outside 128?

Well, it was much celebrated by me, anyway -- but maybe I was just wrong. As you suggest, the US Senate candidates and potential candidates all seem to come not only from east of 128, but within a stone's throw of Brighton. Guy Glodis and Karyn Polito failed badly on the state-wide ballot. Shake-ups in both senate and house leadership didn't exactly boost Worcester's influence, that I can see; there's Harriett Chandler, but most of the promotions went to Boston/Quincy pols, with the Ways & Means plums going to Barre further west, and Haverhill up in the northeast.

But I think the premise still stands. Lil' Timmy Murray is surely the favorite to be the next Governor. Jim McGovern is still a political powerhouse, in line for the Rules Committee chairmanship in not too many years.

I guess the big question is whether the relatively new officeholders, like Republican Sheriff Lew Evangelidis, Mayor Joe O'Brien, and state senator Michael Moore, turn out to be rising stars. I'd say all three (and others) have great potential, but you never know.