Long Odds...

is what State Treasurer Tim Cahill faces if he wants to run for Governor next year as an independent. Unlike Vermont, Connecticut and Maine, independent candidacies for high office don't seem to get much traction here in the Commonwealth. Crazy Christy Mihos for all his money and bonhomie was good for only 6% of the in the 2006 Governor's race. For that fact, anyone else recall Chris Lydon's third party run for mayor of Boston?
Of course not, Lydon lost despite name recognition and some fundraising ability.
Still as long as the odds are for a third party candidate they aren't as daunting as they'd be if Cahill opted to run in the primary as a democrat against Governor Patrick.
Seems to me that barring an out of state affair with a sheep, Patrick is assured renomination, his grip on the party machinery extends waa-ay down to the precinct level so far as I can see.
And a three way race may just be Governor Patrick's easiest path to re-election...maybe by only a bare plurality but re-election all the same.
On the other hand, Cahill has to recall that Jesse "The Body" Ventura won as an independent with 33% of the vote in Minnesota, the tighter the race the better it is for both him and da Governor.
You have to wonder though, where is Tim gonna get the scratch to run for Governor on a third party ticket? Those dealios don't come cheap and he has to find a convincing candidate for Lieutenant Governor...that can be a real chore, just as former Attorney General Tom Reilly if'n yuh don't believe me.