Stephen Lynch enters Democratic primary in Massachusetts Senate special election

Stephen Lynch's introductory video Well, blargh. After hemming and hawing and even contradicting published reports saying he'd run for Senate, conservative Democratic Rep. Stephen Lynch finally launched his campaign in the special election to succeed John Kerry. And Lynch's preferred campaign message is exactly as chip-on-the-shoulder as you'd expect. Indeed, seeing as he begins the race way behind in the polls against fellow Rep. Ed Markey, Lynch's only hope is to go negative. He's off to a fast start:

"It will be an uphill fight for me, but the fight is worth fighting. Shame on us to allow someone to clear the field, box out all the other candidates, and buy the election," said Lynch, in an apparent reference to Markey....

Lynch says Markey is an "insulated person" after 38 years in Congress.
' @mlevenson via Twitter for iPhone "People don't like the Democratic establishment... And I think that helps me," lynch says.
' @mlevenson via Twitter for iPhone Lynch says Markey backed by "the Washington crowd" and won't "shake things up."
' @mlevenson via Twitter for iPhone In addition to attacking Markey, Lynch undoubtedly will try to run to his right. Here's the first taste:
Lynch says Brown "appealed to a certain group that I might appeal to as well."
' @mlevenson via Twitter for iPhone Never mind that Elizabeth Warren handily beat Scott Brown without trying to clone his most cloying attributes, as Lynch would prefer to do. In any event, the person Lynch is appealing to most right now is Brown himself, since the Republican former senator has to be licking his chops at the prospect of a nasty primary between the two Democrats. Brown still hasn't announced a decision, but surely this development can only make his entry more likely.

So what should Markey do now? Fortunately, he has two advantages: He's got a lot more money than Lynch, and he's got a terrific progressive profile. (For the progressive case against Lynch, see BuzzFeed's Andrew Kaczynski.) I don't think Markey has to go negative. Rather, he can and should tout his credentials loudly in order to lock down the liberal vote, which still constitutes the majority of the primary electorate, despite what Lynch may believe. Lynch of course will have his union allies, but in a statewide primary like this, there are lots of votes out there for Markey to unearth.

Oh, and put up your freakin' website already. That would help.