Keller @ Large: People Want Change

BOSTON (CBS) - Our thanks go out to everyone who watched and listened to Tuesday night's gubernatorial debate on WBZ-TV, WBZ NewsRadio 1030 and CBSBoston.com.

Watch: The WBZ-TV Debate

There sure were a lot of you.

The TV ratings showed a big audience, one of the largest ever for a single-station debate. The audience grew as the hour progressed, an unusual turnaround of the usual progression.

And they weren't tuning in to see me.

I fully expect the debates to come to draw large audiences too, because contrary to the often-repeated spin of some in the local punditocracy around here, people are becoming interested in this election.

I was one of many who were appalled by the meager turnout in the September primary. But a month later, people are starting to focus, and I see some powerful undercurrents propelling them to find out more.

For one, people want change.

The cost of living around here is rising faster than incomes, and there's no real sign of short-term relief. There are a few economic sectors where there are jobs and raises available, but many more that are stagnant at best.

The establishment likes to pat itself on the back for the great job they're doing, but if they knew what the rest of us were really thinking, they might think twice about it.

And then there's generational change.

Baby-boomers created the status quo here, and you'll have to excuse the younger generations for thinking they didn't do such a great job of it.

So when people want change, they look to politics as a place to make some. And they tune into debates as a way to see just what sort of change they might want to make next month.

Listen to Jon's commentary:

You can listen to Keller At Large on WBZ News Radio every weekday at 7:55 a.m. You can also watch Jon on WBZ-TV News.

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