Adam Reilly asks the real question about whether the “elected delegates” now eligible to Gabrieli include ex-officios:
Here’s the million-dollar question: Did any previous late entry have to abide by the more restrictive interpretation as tried to scrape up 500 signatures? If not, I don’t think anything sketchy’s going on here; if so, it’s worth asking whether the party’s bending over backwards to help Gabrieli out.
I guess I’m satisfied that in the absence of precedent, the rules are vague. In any event, if John Bonifaz or anyone else wants to provide an example of when the 500 delegates were required to be recruited from the caucus-chosen crowd, let’s see it.
Of course, none of this makes Gabrieli seem any less dilettantish for getting in so late, under such peculiar circumstances, and with a strong whiff of vanity (thinking “people really want me to get in”) and vampiric defeatism (thinking “none of these guys can win — I better get in”).
And it also doesn’t excuse our goofy system of caucuses/convention/late primary. Who thought this was a good idea, exactly?
But, you choose a candidate with the system you have, not the one you wished you had. And in the end, I suspect that even if we see a Gab500 at the convention, it’ll be a side-story by September, if not by the second week of June. The guy’s just got too much work to do in too little time.
And that’s about enough of that, don’t you think?
Gabrielli is one of the smartest and biggest policy wonks Massachusetts has. His public and non-profit work with MassINC, Mass 2020, early childhood education, extended daycare etc. etc. is amaizing, and whatever you think of his slide into the race, the guy does know his stuff and has good ideas.
work has he specifically done with ECE? and “extended day care”. I know he is an advocate for longer school days and afterschool programs but am very curious about these two claims.
And yes, it’s high time everyone moved on from this little spat over the rules. Either Gabrieli will get his 500 sigs or he won’t, and if he does, then either he will get his 15% at the convention or he won’t. If the delegates want him on the ballot, he’ll be on the ballot, and then the voters will decide – as they should. It’s all about democracy, right?
Yes we are a democracy but should he have entered the race months ago? If he really wanted to be governor why would he have waited for the Reilly courtship to occur and not have just jumped in in the begining?
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Yes I know he has paid his dues and knows whats going on, but I just question his motives.
…when more than 3 months before a non-bidding nominating convention (with the only hurdle to jump is to get 15% of the delegates support) and more than 7 months before a candidate is actually nominated by the party, was PLENTY of time to announce for Governor. Granted Patrick and Reilly had to plan way in advance of that, but Gabrielli has the luxury (money) not to have to jump in so quickly. Heck, four years ago, Mitt waited until after the Winter Olympics to jump in.
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I’m not saying its right that rich people can wait and others have to jump in early. But I’m certainly saying that we have no right to say Gabrielli should have announced months ago of his intention. I mean the General Election is more than 8 months away.
First is playing by the rules. If the interpretation of 500 signatures to include delegates who weren’t elected at caucuses is reasonable and not out of line with past precedent (I am ignorant on both points), end of story. (But, BTW, can this interpretation be challenged and overturned by the convention itself? And if so, by what vote — majority, 2/3?) And to make it to the general Gabrielli still has three stiff challenges ahead of him — 500 signatures, 15% on the first convention ballot, and the primary itself.
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Second is winning. More than half a year to the primary is a very long time. There’s no good reason a field has to be set in stone this far ahead of time. If, as some think, Reilly has already peaked, or if, as some think, Patrick is too liberal, the worst thing for Dems would be a nominating process so inflexible that a stronger candidate couldn’t still emerge. I happen to think that Reilly has peaked and that Patrick will be a very strong candidate against Healey and/or Mihos, but, as they say in sports, that’s why we play the games.