As now seems likely, Massachusetts may reschedule its primaries from March to February 5th. The Boston Globe reports:

"February 5 has become a de facto national primary day," [Secretary of State William] Galvin said. "This gives Massachusetts voters the first chance in years to participate in some significant way in the selection process for nominees in both parties."

Most analysts agree that the results of Feb. 5 primaries could well mark the end of the presidential nominating races in both parties. There will be as many as 21 primaries that day, including votes in delegate-rich states of New York, New Jersey, Illinois, and California... The new date for a Massachusetts primary could create a political problem for Mitt Romney. The former governor, who is not as popular among Bay State Republicans as he once was, may be forced to compete here in an effort to avoid an embarrassing loss in his home state.

Indeed. The Republicans have a winner take all primary, and Romney is not nearly as popular among Bay State Republicans as outsiders might think.

On the Democractic side, my raw speculation would be that this gives an advantage to Obama since Governor Patrick is mobilizing supporters on Obama's behalf and no one else seems to have much of a presence in the state, having assumed that the primary, if it mattered at all, would be in March.

At the same time, Galvin says that one of the reasons for doing this is to simultaneously schedule five party primaries for vacant state legislative seats. And there is at least one blogger running. Lori Erlich is running in the Dem primary for State Rep from Marblehead. She is a environental activist, a CPA and based on the profile of the field in The Marblehead Reporter, she sounds like the progressive choice -- and of course, being a fellow blogger gets her a mention here.