2010: A Campaign Odyssey — Most Memorable Moments

There were a lot of memorable moments this campaign season. But the award for most unmemorable presidential visit goes to... (AP)

Let’s look back on the campaign season with 21/21 hindsight.

We won’t have 20/20 hindsight until voters have their say. They always have the last say — until pundits can analyze the exit polls and explain what voters were trying to say. Regardless of election results, it is not too early to reflect on the ordeal that candidates put us through — I mean, the joy they shared with us.

In many ways, this campaign season was, to use Charlie Baker’s word in his Big Dig memo, “surreal.” There were as many memorable moments as spatchcocks at a Perdue company picnic…

Most candid candidate. Tim Cahill, independent candidate for governor and part-time state treasurer, was surprisingly forthright when he said in a radio interview: “I’m not passing myself off as a reformer or as a good government guy.” That is a good example of why “gaffe” is often defined as: a politician accidentally telling the truth.

Most transparent spin. Over a month ago, supporters of Gov. Deval Patrick’s got an e-blast from senior strategist Doug Rubin. His attempt to rationalize bad news was so absurd that even some supporters had to laugh. He wrote, “Today’s poll in the Boston Globe, showing Governor Patrick with a 1 point lead over Charlie Baker, is exactly what our campaign needs to win on November 2… there are some out there who still need a wake up call, a reminder, about what’s at stake in this election.”

Most sincere failure. The Green-Rainbow Party candidate, Jill Stein, often said she did not want to be influenced by campaign donations. She achieved that goal by falling short of raising the $125,000 needed to qualify for up to $519,000 in public campaign funds.

Dan also dished out Election 2010 awards: The ‘Wirees’

Most disloyal friend since Brutus. When Cahill’s running mate, Paul Loscocco, announced he was leaving the ticket and endorsing Baker, voters were stunned. First, they had no idea he had even been running. Second, he was ruthlessly betraying a nice politician fondly known as “Tim the Treasurer” and more recently, “Likely Loser.”

Most unmemorable presidential visit. It’s not easy for presidents to come to town and make minimal news. But that’s what the Patrick campaign managed to accomplish when President Obama came to Boston to help rally the troops. Patrick’s staff feared that Mr. Obama had the Midas Touch — he could turn Patrick into a too-precious image, as he did with Martha Coakley when she faced Scott Brown in the special Senate contest. But, they succeeded in keeping Mr. Obama uninteresting — for example, preventing a photo op of the president with Coakley. So we are left with the vague memory that the president visited — or maybe not.

Most un-titillating nudity. Baker is described as bland, bloodless and boring. But when you get past the superlatives, you realize he did give the media some colorful material. The Boston Globe reported this answer to a query about his biggest embarrassment: “Running naked through Harvard Square as a freshman in college after my friends pulled off all the tin foil I was dressed in. I ran back to the dorm. That was back when a lot of people were streaking.” Ironically, his even bigger embarrassment was that nobody was interested in his racy confession. “Really? You were dressed in tin foil”? Yawn.

Most suicidal lawsuit. Legally, Cahill sued former political operatives for taking his money while conspiring with Republicans to undermine him. But, politically, he seemed to be suing Baker. He hurt Baker, but did more damage to his own candidacy. The suit made clear that Cahill was, in effect, conceding the race and placing blame for his loss.

Most surprising scandal. In 2010, almost any character flaw was treated as a scandal by an opponent. But it was unarguably a scandal when Rep. John Tierney’s wife, Patrice, pleaded guilty to federal tax charges for managing a bank account her brother allegedly used to deposit millions of dollars in illegal gambling profits from an offshore betting operation. The congressman assured his constituents that he was totally ignorant of what his wife pleaded guilty to. That claim must have taxed the imagination of many married voters who surely thought, “Is he kidding? If my spouse had been managing a multimillion dollar account from offshore gambling, I think I would have a clue.”

Most principal residences. The Globe exposed Democratic auditor candidate Suzanne Bump for claiming two different homes as a “principal residence” for the last four years. At first she argued she was entitled to the dual deduction. Then, like Sen. John Forbes Kerry saying he’d pay Mass. taxes on his yacht moored in Rhode Island, she said she’d pay back taxes of $5,875 that Boston tax officials said she owed. Still, Bump is virtually tied with GOP candidate Mary Z. Connaughton in the polls. Perhaps voters would have been more upset if Bump claimed three principal residences.

Most counterproductive ad. Baker’s gender gap was not helped by a TV spot which began with his wife sitting by him, then cropped her from view, except for her nose.

Most out of touch with voter anger. Rep. Barney Frank’s media team in Washington, D.C., wasted huge sums on a sappy TV bio spot about his sad childhood in New Jersey. How do you elicit sympathy for a fast-talking wiseacre who’s been in office for 30 years?

Most responsible for GOP embarrassment. Dan Payne, my Democratic counterpart, came up with one of the best 2010 analogies — saying the gubernatorial candidates reminded him of “The Wizard of Oz.” Patrick was the lion, needing courage, Baker was the tin man, needing a heart, Cahill was the scarecrow, needing a brain, and Stein was the naïve Dorothy. Late in the summer, we found out who the Wizard was — former Gov. Mitt Romney. He was the chief, covert sponsor of GOP congressional candidate Jeff Perry, who became something of a pariah — especially after Lisa Allen went public and said Perry failed to stop, report or testify against the police officer under his supervision who illegally strip-searched her when she was 14. When the news broke, Romney stayed behind the curtain. In response to reporters’ queries he only issued a statement through an aide that vouched for Perry’s issue positions, but not his integrity. Romney never returned to the 10th district. He let Baker and Brown take the heat instead.

The 2010 campaigns may have seemed more vitriolic and simplistic than in past cycles. Or perhaps we just block out painful memories so we can feel nostalgic.

Anyway, I commend the WBUR news staff for covering campaigns with far more depth than most media. They cover politics with the understanding that the election season is now year-round, and that citizens are increasingly interested in the strategies, tactics and ambitions at play — not just scandals.

And I thank you, dear reader, for visiting this site and kindly considering our thoughts.

Now comes the important part: making your decisions about candidates and referenda. Choose wisely. We’re going to be living with the consequences.