At the risk of understatement, the Massachusetts special election is a very big deal. With the United States Senate currently divided at 59 Democrats to 40 Republicans, the question to be resolved is whether Democrats will get their 60th vote to force through President Obama's health reform bill, or Republicans will get their 41st and be able to block it. What happens in Massachusetts tomorrow at the polls will affect everyone from infants to elders, from Bangor to Ketchikan.

In terms of its outcome, this election is a referendum on healthcare. Democratic candidate Martha Coakley is a guaranteed vote for Obamacare. She vows to support both the individual mandate and the public insurance option, and believes that such measures will expand coverage and reduce costs. By contrast, Republican candidate Scott Brown pledges to oppose the healthcare legislation that is under consideration in Congress. He argues that the President's reform bill will increase taxes and government spending, while decreasing the quality of care.

Brown's position on healthcare resonates strongly with non-Democrats. A growing number of people want government out of their wallets and out of their private lives. Many people don't yet think about this in terms of individual rights, but they do know a compatible image when they see it. Part of why Brown has been so effective as a candidate is that his image complements his positions. In every way, Coakley represents the arrogant liberal who believes that Washington should decide what is best for individuals, while Brown represents the independent-minded, hard-working individual. From the start, his campaign line has been, "I'm Scott Brown. I live in Wrentham, and I drive a truck."

Coakley cavorts with Washington lobbyists; Brown campaigns in a barn jacket. Coakley trots out Bill Clinton and Barack Obama for support; Brown gets Doug Flutie, Curt Schilling, and actor John Ratzenberger (Cliff Clavin from the TV show Cheers). In today's environment, all of this means advantage Brown.

For defenders of individual rights and free markets, the apparent appeal to individualism and old-fashioned values is a promising sign. Maybe Brown could become a voice for capitalism—or at least for common sense.

But there are still some very real concerns with Scott Brown. He says that he believes that "all Americans deserve healthcare coverage." What exactly does he mean by that? He says that he supports the health reforms that Massachusetts enacted under former governor Mitt Romney. Why?!?

For now, we need someone—practically anyone—to be the 41st vote. Supporting Scott Brown does not mean that the push toward socialized medicine has been completely thwarted. But it does mean that we live to fight another day.

Today's Event

Earlier today, we attended a moderate-sized gathering of Brown supporters in snowy North Andover, Massachusetts. This was just one of hundreds of events for Brown in the last few weeks.

About 350-400 people gathered along both sides of the road with signs, banners, and flags. Two major news crews were present (Jack Harper for WCVB and Jonathan Hall for WHDH), and dozens of reporters from both local and far away. I spoke for several minutes with a reporter from—believe it or not—the New York Post, and handed out a few of my own business cards for The Lucidicus Project. The crowd was extremely energetic and genuinely excited to get the opportunity to show support for their candidate.

Brown arrived via his campaign bus and walked down Main Street very gradually, taking time to shake the hand and thank everyone and anyone in the crowd, one by one. After about an hour, he stepped up onto a small platform with a megaphone and gave some rousing words. There were no disruptions and no imposters—at least no credible ones. All in all, a quick, successful campaign stop the day before election day.

Photos from the January 18th rally for Scott Brown in North Andover, MA:

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