Massachusetts: ‘Bottom has fallen out’ of Coakley's polls; Dems prepare to explain defeat, protect Obama  —  Here in Massachusetts, as well as in Washington, a growing sense of gloom is setting in among Democrats about the fortunes of Democratic Senate candidate Martha Coakley.

Scott Brown is a more liberal Republican than Dede Scozzafava  —  A special Senate election is being held next Tuesday in Massachusetts to finish Edward Kennedy's term.  The candidates are Martha Coakley (D), and State Senator Scott P. Brown (R).  —  The election is particularly noteworthy for a number of reasons.

Scott Brown Voted Against Giving Help To 9/11 Recovery Workers  —  One month after the September 11th attacks, Scott Brown was one of only three Massachusetts State Representatives to vote against a bill to provide financial assistance to Red Cross workers who had volunteered with 9/11 recovery efforts, we've learned.

OK, It's a Toss-Up  —  Earlier today I tweeted about how there wasn't enough evidence to describe the Massachusetts special election as a “toss-up”, as some other forecasters have done, based on the information available to us at that time.  —  Well, now there's some new evidence.

Coakley Internal: Brown +3  —  I've been told reliably that Martha Coakley's internal poll for Thursday night showed her trailing Scott Brown by three points — 47 to 44 percent.  —  As I wrote yesterday, her internal poll on Wednesday night had her barely ahead, 46 to 44 percent.

What To Do If Coakley Loses  —  As the likelihood grows that Republicans could win the special election in Massachusetts, it's worth thinking again about alternatives for health care reform in case that happens.  I see three, in descending order of preference:

The Hiller Instinct: Suffolk University Poll  —  Scott Brown is riding a wave.  It could break before it hits shore, or, it could crash through the Democratic seawall of state politics and send him all the way to the U.S. Senate.  —  Our exclusive 7NEWS/Suffolk University Poll shows Brown, with 50%, in front of Coakley with 46%.

WHO VOTES AGAINST HELP FOR 9/11 RECOVERY WORKERS?.... It's a little late in the game to introduce a game-changing issue into the Senate special election in Massachusetts — the election is Tuesday, after all — but this revelation nevertheless tells voters something pretty important about Republican Scott Brown.

Miracle in Massachusetts  —  Byron York is reporting that the bottom is dropping out of Martha Coakley's support in the Mass Senate race.  It's not just the Democratic scare of a lifetime: Scott Brown might actually win.  —  If so, this is an earthquake in American politics …

Obama heading to Massachusetts for Coakley  —  President Barack Obama will be heading to Massachusetts to campaign for Martha Coakley this Sunday, according to two senior sources informed of the president's decision, a last-minute effort to give the Democrat a needed boost in the Senate race.

Rep. Snyder bows out  —  Rep. Vic Snyder (D-Ark.) has announced he will not seek reelection, 24 hours after a poll showed him losing his 2010 race by 17 points.  —  Snyder released a candid statement saying the diffifulty of the race ahead was a major factor in his decision, especially considering his family situation.