Conservative Ranking of Candidates in Selected Races

MN Staff
October 2002 Print Edition

The charts included here represent a sampling of races from around the state where MassNews has looked at the candidates and the issues. This is an attempt to synthesize the issues and positions in a non-scientific manner. In four general categories we reviewed incumbent votes and candidate positions. We reviewed the input and recommendations from a number of conservative groups and activists. These inputs were then sorted and categorized into rankings in four different categories. Within each category the rankings were Yes, Mixed, or No; green, yellow, or red, respectively.

The first category is TAXES. We need to acknowledge the tremendous work done by the Smart Vote Project and by CLT in this specific area. CLT's rankings and endorsements, along with voting records, and interviews were used to compile the rankings in this category.

The second category is ABORTION. We researched the great work done by Mass Citizens for Life as well as other groups to ascertain the rankings for the candidates in this category. Many candidates claim to be pro-choice but still support a ban on partial birth abortion and parental consent laws. These types of responses were classified as "mixed" (i.e. Yellow).

The third category is GUNS. Although the rankings provided by the Gun Owners Action League were primary input for this category, we were able to supplement our findings using data from Vote Smart and from the voting record in the Legislature.

The last category the Protection of Marriage Amendment. This issue was a prominent issue in the past year and may yet be in the headlines again.