Kennedy in Toughest Fight Ever

EDWARD Kennedy's 32-year reign over one of Massachusetts' seats in the United States Senate is only a few thousand Stewarts away from an uncamelot-like end.

``I think he's been there too long,'' says Stewart, a soft-spoken Boston resident who chose not to give his last name. ``At 84 I can remember what he has and hasn't done. I think a change would be good.''

For the first time in his career, Ted Kennedy is fighting for his political life. The country's strong anti-incumbent and anti-Clinton sentiment has spread to Massachusetts with a vengeance, and older voters that could be swayed in the past by the Kennedy mystique are no longer a sure thing.

Observers say the tenuous plight of the leader of Massachusetts' most celebrated Democratic family and the large lead in polls of Republican Gov. William Weld reflect a sea change in traditionally Democrat-dominated Massachusetts politics.

``The electorate in Massachusetts has changed substantially over the last ten years,'' says Lou DiNatale, a senior fellow at the McCormack Institute for Public Affairs at the University of Massachusetts in Boston. ``They're a lot of people who've moved in from other states and a lot of young people who don't care who Kennedy is.''

Massachusetts voters, just like their counterparts nationwide, are increasingly cynical about politics, observers say. Tobe Berkovitz, a communications professorat Boston University and political consultant, says which generation turns out at the polls will be a crucial factor in Kennedy's race.

``I'd be curious to know what percentage of the electorate is going to be over 40, because I think they think fondly of him and associate him with Camelot,'' says Mr. Berkovitz. ``People under 40 associate him with Chappaquidick.''

Kennedy has been dogged by a series of dismal local media polls. Two taken late last week showed him in a statistical dead heat with GOP challenger Mitt Romney.

Republicans across the country are drooling. ``When [Republicans] sit around and think about their dearest fantasies, they dream of beating Ted Kennedy in Massachusetts,'' says William Schneider, a political analyst at the American Enterprise Insitute in Washington. ``If Romney does it, he will instantly become a national player in the Republican party.''

Romney - a self-made venture capitalist millionaire and son of former Michigan governor and presidential candidate George Romney -

trounced his opponent in the Sept. 20 primary.

Running as a pro-business fiscal conservative who is tough on crime, Romney differs with Kennedy on nearly every issue except abortion. Romney has said he is pro-abortion rights with some restrictions, but has been criticized for not being more specific on abortion and other issues.

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