Mike Barnicle had a good analysis of the Mass. Senate race this morning on Morning Joe. Coakley isn’t a good candidate, and Brown has likability, fiscal conservatism, an independent streak at a time when people are fed up and suffering from “buyer’s remorse” about Barack Obama (this is from memory).

The idea that a spirit of “buyer’s remose” is settling in early 2010 is supported by a Quinnipiac poll coming out today that shows a statistical tie (35–37) on whether the U.S. would be better off if John McCain had won the 2008 election nationally. In the poll, the public is split on the president’s job approval, 46–46.

UPDATE: The poll is here.

From the release: Except for terrorism, Obama’s approval numbers on specific areas of domestic policy are lower than his overall rating: 41 – 54 percent for his handling of the economy; 34 – 59 percent for creating jobs; 35 – 58 percent for health care; 48 – 44 percent for handling terrorism. “These ratings on the economy and health care probably are why more voters say they don’t share Obama’s views on the issues they care about.”