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Giant shadow

Forgotten city
While no one can say yet with any authority who will emerge victorious from the special-election Democratic primary in December, most experts agree that that contest will completely overwhelm the Boston city elections of November 3.

The Senate race will dominate media coverage from here on. Turnout for the city elections will almost certainly be low, as will contributions to city candidates. Plus, veteran political observers say that the very lifeblood of campaigns — the people who work or volunteer for the candidates — will be siphoned away from city elections.

All of this figures to aid Tom Menino, rather than his attention-starved challengers in the mayoral race.

It should also help incumbent city councilors, most notably at-large councilors Stephen Murphy and John Connolly. One City Hall insider, who is a loyalist of one of those incumbents, says that his reaction to learning of the December 8 primary date was, "Thank you, Ted Kennedy, for protecting your Irish brothers."

To read the "Talking Politics" blog, go to thePhoenix.com/talkingpolitics. David S. Bernstein can be reached at dbernstein@phx.com.