Does anyone stand chance against powerful incumbent mayor?
It’s crunch time in Boston’s mayoral race. The city’s preliminary election is less than a month away, and observers say it’s a critical juncture for all three challengers to seize momentum as the mayor pursues an unprecedented fifth term. One opportunity comes tomorrow night at the first scheduled debate, when City Councilors Michael Flaherty and Sam Yoon and businessman Kevin McCrea will seek to expose weaknesses in Mayor Thomas Menino’s armor. The mayor has enjoyed immense popularity in his four terms, and political observers say dethroning Menino also means passing another daunting roadblock — history. No incumbent has lost a mayoral election in Boston since 1949, a staggering reality that suggests someone must emerge and take bold steps to unseat Menino. “History is certainly not on their side,” said Lawrence DiCara, a City Hall observer and former city councilor. “Change” has certainly dominated the challengers’ messages thus far, including Flaherty’s “Good. Better.” campaign, Yoo
