BY DAN VALENTI

PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY

(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEDNESDAY SEPT. 26, 2019) — When acting Berkshire County district attorney Paul Caccaviello decided to seek the office he now holds via a write-in campaign after losing the Democratic Party primary bid to Andrea Harrington, he surprised a lot of folks, including (and especially) Harrington. Team Harrington has been playing catch up ever since.

Team H’s main tactic has been to say “He can’t win. Impossible. No chance,” repeating it often enough that they might actually begin to believe it themselves. That would be a mistake, partly because of the danger in letting up on the relentless pace of campaigning that brought Harrington the nomination in the first place.

The danger of a letdown looms large because of how Harrington thought she could relax and coast her way to a November coronation. No way that happens now, with Cacc’s dramatic write-in bid capturing the imaginations of those who vote and those who normally wouldn’t vote but now will. To compound the danger, Harrington’s first unofficial “official” move was her now-infamous phone call to Melissa Mazzeo. The rashness of the blunder spoke of panic.

Prior to floating the “He can’t win” strategy, Team Harrington painted Cacc’s move as a kind of insult, as if he were trying to introduce moldy Oreo cookies at a Buckingham Palace duck-and-goose soire. They called him a “sore loser,” ignoring that the electoral system has a provision for just such a write-in or sticker campaign. They said a write-in effort disrespected the primary results, a logical confusion based on the faulty premise that two elections are not separate, which they are, but united.

In fact, Cacciavello’s actions are the opposite of “mocking the system.” In seeking the office as a write-in candidate, he’s playing out the democratic process to its fullest, allowing the broadest participation of the electorate. If Harrington is secure with her narrow win in the primary, she should welcome the chance to prove it was no fluke. Moreover, let us repeat: A primary win is one thing: separate, self-contained, indivisible. The general election opens up entirely new electoral options, one of which — the write-in — Caccaviello has decided to exercise. Could it be “The Players” among Harrington backers betray a tinge of jealousy at Cacc’s bold move, wishing they could “be their own man” the way he is doing with his sticker bid?

———- 000 ———-

He can’t win? THE PLANET says he CAN win. Here are the factor of “how” and “why.”

• This isn’t the typical “protest” campaign. This one will be conducted by a known name with financial and organizational backing.
• There will be a full vote across the political spectrum. This gives the county’s 7,614 Republicans a say. THE PLANET never thought we’d see the day where GOP voters would have the chance to decide a local general election. That day has arrived. Caccaviello’s perceived “tough on crime” stance should the greater number of that electoral subset as opposed to Harrington’s supposed “softer, gentler” approach.
• There are alsi 48,497 unenrolled (independent) voters in the county. They will have more reason to vote in November than they did first time out because in the general election, these people had to declare a party — in this case, Democratic — in order to vote. That required them to ditch their “unenrolled” status, become “Democrats” for a day, then switch back to “unenrolled. In November, independents won’t have to go through the trouble. They can simply vote as they are for the candidate of their choice irrespective of party. The removal of that hassle will bring a flood of independent voters to the polls in November. Turnout could be more than 10,000 new voters.
• History shows that successful write-in campaigns are conducted in areas with (a) low population and (b) small media markets where advertising is inexpensive. That precisely describes Berkshire County.
• With only two candidates, Caccaviello will need only to win a simple majority and not a plurality.
• The Knight Factor: Judith Knight took 5,066 votes in the primary. She is backing Cacc. It follows that most of her supporters will take the cue. They know that Harrington made a major blunder when she asked Pittsfield state rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier to bully Knight to drop out and endorse Andrea. That alienated the Knight camp, and the general election will provide an opportunity for payback. Yes, and she’s a bitch. Payback, that is.
• Unlike in the primary, the candidate who wins Pittsfield will win in November. THE PLANET held and still does that Pittsfield, not Williamstown or Great Barrington, holds the key to this election. Cacc’s Pittsfield win in September gives him a huge electoral boost, one that typically is not found in a write-in campaign.
• The opportunity to make political history should play a small role here. Cacc has a chance to go down in county political annals for the ages. That should provide a small adrenaline boost, and small differences might prove large when officials tally the final vote.

Paul Caccaviello assumes more than just responsibility for a write-in effort. He takes on Dame Victory herself. She stands before him, imposing but ready to be wooed. To win her love, Cacc will have to go courting as fervently as a lovesick lad in spring.

Today, we spelled out “why” Cacc can win this race. In The Weekend Edition, we will present the blueprint for “how.” Stay tuned.

———————————————————————————————-

“In every walk with nature, one receives more than he seeks” — John Muir.

“OPEN THE WINDOW, AUNT MILLIE.”

LOVE TO ALL.

The views and opinions expressed in the comment section or in the text other than those of PLANET VALENTI are not necessarily endorsed by the operators of this website. PLANET VALENTI assumes no responsibility for such views and opinions, and it reserves the right to remove or edit any comment, including but not limited to those that violate the website’s Rules of Conduct and its editorial policies. PLANET VALENTI shall not be held responsible for the consequences that may result from any posted comment or outside opinion or commentary as provided in Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act and this website’s terms of service. All users of this website — including readers, commentators, contributors, or anyone else making use of its information hereby agree to these conditions by virtue of this notice. When PLANET VALENTI ends with the words “The Usual Disclaimer,” that phrase shall be understood to refer to the full text of this disclaimer.