Scott Brown in Hopes and Prospects

On Principles & Values: Massive campaign donation infusion from financial executives

The outcome was depicted as a right-wing revolt of an angry population against the excesses of the liberal elitists who run the government. But the data tell a rather different story, not just the flood of funding from the financial institutions in punishment for Obama's belated "populist" rhetoric and proposals. The official data showed that Brown was carried to victory by very high voting and enthusiasm in the "affluent suburbs," alongside low turnout and general apathy in the urban areas that are largely Democratic.

Doubtless there was some impact of the populist image crafted by the PR machine ("I'm Scott Brown, this is my truck," "regular guy," nude model, daughter an American Idol contestant, etc.) But this appears to have had only a secondary role.