Reilly chooses female state rep for running mate
By Associated Press
Monday, January 30, 2006 – Updated: 02:00 PM EST
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BOSTON – Democratic gubernatorial candidate Tom Reilly chose state Rep. Marie St. Fleur to be his running mate on Monday, said a top campaign official with personal knowledge of the decision.
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p> St. Fleur is a Boston Democrat who is the stateâs first Haitian-born lawmaker. Her selection dovetails with a theme Reilly has been pounding on the campaign trail: that he connects with average voters because of his background as the son of Irish immigrants.
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p> A graduate of the University of Massachusetts at Amherst with a law degree from Boston College, St. Fleur, 43, was first elected to the Legislature in 1999 and now serves as vice chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee.
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p> The decision follows a weekend of activity in which Reilly first appeared poised to run with millionaire businessman Chris Gabrieli. Negotiations, however, broke down Sunday, even as Reillyâs aides prepared a news conference to announce the decision.
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p> The campaign team was to be formally announced on Tuesday, the campaign official told the AP.
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p> On Monday, Reilly turned to St. Fleur, who only last week was quoted as saying she would not run because she had already committed to Deborah Goldberg, a former Brookline selectwoman who has already announced her candidacy for lieutenant governor.
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p> Three others are running for the No. 2 spot as well, including Worcester Mayor Tim Murray, who lambasted Reilly last week when word of the Gabrieli negotiations leaked. Murray complained that the attorney general was reneging on a commitment to let the lieutenant governorâs race sort itself out, without intervention by one of the gubernatorial candidates.
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p> Reilly is vying for the Democratic nomination with former Clinton administration official Deval Patrick. Lt. Gov. Kerry Healey is seeking the Republican nomination to succeed Gov. Mitt Romney, who announced recently that he would not seek a second term.
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p> In Massachusetts, candidates for governor and lieutenant governor run separately through the state primary in September. The winning Democrats and Republicans are then paired on the November ballot. In 1990, though, William F. Weld began a string of Republican victories by announcing he was teaming up with then-state Sen. Paul Cellucci.
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p> By running as a ticket, the two bolstered each othersâ weaknesses and allowed their campaigns to husband resources by combining operations.
What a stupid move . . .Reilly is just pissing off everyone now. Especially Silbert and Goldberg for bringing another woman into the race.
fieldguysays
She has $18,900 in her campaign account. That’s positively Sam Kelley money.
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The December 2005 (rounded) #s for the rest of the field:
Andrea Silbert: $302,000
Tim Murray: $226,000
Debby Goldberg: $136,000
Sam Kelley: $11,000
daclerksays
And if you think all those Reilly donors are going to pony up for St. Fleur, think again.
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Query: can St. Fleur use anything other than her own $ in the campaign? I presume not, but is there any way to sneak $ over to her?
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Also, can Reilly/St. Fleur run joint ads before the primary? is that legal if they split/share the cost? I can’t remember how they did it in 02…
daclerksays
Reilly looks desparate; St. Fleur is a second fiddle and a turncoat for saying she wouldn’t run; Goldberg is screwed because she can’t even keep her supporters with her, let alone keep them out of the race; Murray may have issues with some of his endorsers (but if they’re as solid as has been portrayed on this board, then not) and can’t claim to be the most “urban” or “city” guy anymore; Silbert could be in trouble with another woman running and would seem to have to distinguish herself with the mom/entrepreneur thing; Patrick may not have to pick someone because St. Fleur could be a weak candidate. Or maybe he does so that he doesn’t look weak.
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Just my initial thoughts, but god, what a mess.
politicalfeminista says
This is the first I’ve heard of that. Didn’t St. Fleur flat out reject the idea, because she is backing Goldberg?
sharpchick says
The AP broke the story.
fieldguy says
Reilly chooses female state rep for running mate
By Associated Press
Monday, January 30, 2006 – Updated: 02:00 PM EST
<
p>
BOSTON – Democratic gubernatorial candidate Tom Reilly chose state Rep. Marie St. Fleur to be his running mate on Monday, said a top campaign official with personal knowledge of the decision.
<
p> St. Fleur is a Boston Democrat who is the stateâs first Haitian-born lawmaker. Her selection dovetails with a theme Reilly has been pounding on the campaign trail: that he connects with average voters because of his background as the son of Irish immigrants.
<
p> A graduate of the University of Massachusetts at Amherst with a law degree from Boston College, St. Fleur, 43, was first elected to the Legislature in 1999 and now serves as vice chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee.
<
p> The decision follows a weekend of activity in which Reilly first appeared poised to run with millionaire businessman Chris Gabrieli. Negotiations, however, broke down Sunday, even as Reillyâs aides prepared a news conference to announce the decision.
<
p> The campaign team was to be formally announced on Tuesday, the campaign official told the AP.
<
p> On Monday, Reilly turned to St. Fleur, who only last week was quoted as saying she would not run because she had already committed to Deborah Goldberg, a former Brookline selectwoman who has already announced her candidacy for lieutenant governor.
<
p> Three others are running for the No. 2 spot as well, including Worcester Mayor Tim Murray, who lambasted Reilly last week when word of the Gabrieli negotiations leaked. Murray complained that the attorney general was reneging on a commitment to let the lieutenant governorâs race sort itself out, without intervention by one of the gubernatorial candidates.
<
p> Reilly is vying for the Democratic nomination with former Clinton administration official Deval Patrick. Lt. Gov. Kerry Healey is seeking the Republican nomination to succeed Gov. Mitt Romney, who announced recently that he would not seek a second term.
<
p> In Massachusetts, candidates for governor and lieutenant governor run separately through the state primary in September. The winning Democrats and Republicans are then paired on the November ballot. In 1990, though, William F. Weld began a string of Republican victories by announcing he was teaming up with then-state Sen. Paul Cellucci.
<
p> By running as a ticket, the two bolstered each othersâ weaknesses and allowed their campaigns to husband resources by combining operations.
steven-leibowitz says
Tell me how Reilly looks good here?
politicalfeminista says
What a stupid move . . .Reilly is just pissing off everyone now. Especially Silbert and Goldberg for bringing another woman into the race.
fieldguy says
She has $18,900 in her campaign account. That’s positively Sam Kelley money.
<
p>
The December 2005 (rounded) #s for the rest of the field:
Andrea Silbert: $302,000
Tim Murray: $226,000
Debby Goldberg: $136,000
Sam Kelley: $11,000
daclerk says
And if you think all those Reilly donors are going to pony up for St. Fleur, think again.
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p>
Query: can St. Fleur use anything other than her own $ in the campaign? I presume not, but is there any way to sneak $ over to her?
<
p>
Also, can Reilly/St. Fleur run joint ads before the primary? is that legal if they split/share the cost? I can’t remember how they did it in 02…
daclerk says
Reilly looks desparate; St. Fleur is a second fiddle and a turncoat for saying she wouldn’t run; Goldberg is screwed because she can’t even keep her supporters with her, let alone keep them out of the race; Murray may have issues with some of his endorsers (but if they’re as solid as has been portrayed on this board, then not) and can’t claim to be the most “urban” or “city” guy anymore; Silbert could be in trouble with another woman running and would seem to have to distinguish herself with the mom/entrepreneur thing; Patrick may not have to pick someone because St. Fleur could be a weak candidate. Or maybe he does so that he doesn’t look weak.
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Just my initial thoughts, but god, what a mess.
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