Top Democratic operative John Podesta expressed cautious optimism on Saturday that the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in Massachusetts, Martha Coakley, would defeat Republican Scott Brown in Tuesday's special election, despite running what he called a "lackluster campaign.""I'm glad the election is this Tuesday instead of last Tuesday," Podesta told The Daily Caller. "Had the election been last Tuesday there would have been a lot higher chance she would have lost."
Podesta served as White House chief of staff under President Bill Clinton and now runs the Center for American Progress, which has become a powerhouse liberal Democratic think tank over the last few years.
He said that the flood of national Democratic resources into the state, to run television ads and organize get out the vote efforts, would likely combine with President Obama's visit to the state Sunday afternoon to give Coakley the edge.
"It's highly likely the president's visit will push her over the finish line," Podesta said.
Podesta also said there are "a number of paths," including reconciliation, to getting the president's health-care reform bill through the Congress even if Democrats lose their Senate seat in Massachusetts on Tuesday.