Beating Bawney

Could we have another Massachusetts Miracle?  It looks like the NRCC is finally ready to believe that Bawney Fwank can be beaten:

With the respected, nonpartisan Cook Political Report shifting Barney Frank’s Massachusetts district from “solid” Democratic to “likely” Democratic and what appears to be the increasing momentum of his Republican challenger Sean Bielat, the National Republican Congressional Committee may be putting its money into the race.

The Party committee’s spending would be a major boon to the young former Marine challenging the notoriously cantankerous Frank, and is the latest sign of just how wide the playing field is in the 2010 midterm elections.

Bielat had lunch with House Republican Whip Eric Cantor Tuesday, and a spokeswoman for Bielat said “we expect some resources” from the NRCC “going into the home stretch.”

NRCC spokesman Tory Mazzola said the NRCC is “keeping an eye” on the race “because over the last few weeks it’s become very competitive.”

Privately, a Republican operative said Cantor’s lunch with Bielat was illustrative. “That would certainly be an indication this is winnable,” the source said. A major Tea Party group has also vowed to pour money into the race.

The voters in Massachusetts have been in a cranky mood this year, electing Republican Scott Brown to fill Teddy Kennedy's old seat. Although Bawney is still favored to win, the building GOP wave could sweep Bawney out of the way as it did Martha Coakley.