Wayne Woodlief, whose early prediction (way back in February) in the Democratic primary was dead-on, today calls Deval Patrick “the early favorite to score a three-goal hat trick by winning the convention, the primary and the general election.”
His whole column is terrific and well worth reading. Here are a few highlights:
Its not that I underestimate Republican gubernatorial candidate Kerry Healey. Shes brainy, tough and rich. Yet she has never faced the kind of tidal wave created by Deval Patrick, the landslide winner in Tuesdays Democratic primary.
Im not saying Patrick will roll right over her on Nov. 7. But he definitely could. Hes that good, that inspirational and that resourceful in raising big bucks, too.
Patrick has a clear advantage over, or parity with, Healey in several categories, among them:
- Message. His gospel of hope and a new kind of politics has created a zealous group of followers. They contribute money, draft neighbors to the cause and would just about walk through walls for Patrick. Who ever heard of a primary candidate matching the combined vote total of his two opponents – a sitting attorney general and the 2002 nominee for lieutenant governor – as Patrick did on Tuesday? …
Healey says only a Republican governor can serve as a check and balance on the Democratic-dominated Legislature. But Patrick will point out that the Romney-Healey administration has had four years to get an income tax rollback, with no success. Hell cite the regularity with which Gov. Mitt Romneys vetoes have been overridden.
Patrick could even make the case that hed do a better job standing up to the legislative leadership. Why, yes! [Yes he could! –ed.] When the throng of supporters at his election night celebration chanted, Yes, we can! – and the nominee told them, Let them hear that on Beacon Hill! – you can bet Senate President Robert Travaglini and House Speaker Sal DiMasi heard it. Just as they noted all those communities where Patrick rolled up big numbers.
- Money. Yeah, Healey and her husband Sean are rich and ready to sink millions into the campaign. But for the first time in five election cycles, the state Democratic Party has funds to match the headstart wealthy Republicans usually enjoy….
- Surrogates. As Republican former state treasurer Joe Malone noted in analyzing the election, Democratic surrogates – sheriffs, district attorneys, reps, senators and congressmen – keep coming at you in waves. They can trash Healey, Malone warned, while Patrick, oh so nobly, stays above it all.
- Spoilers. [One word: Mihos. –ed.] …
- Debate experience. Patrick had some tough debates in the primary. Healey is untested. Expect him to learn from past mistakes, his own (too whiny last week) and others gaffes. Patrick will not offer to show you his tattoo (if he has one) as OBrien wisecracked she would in 2002.
OK, that was actually most of the column. But go read the whole thing anyway.
Meanwhile, Ginny Buckingham has (predictably) shifted into full-time shill mode. Expect none of her usual insightful, irreverent, and occasionally conventional-wisdom-defying and GOP-insider-bucking commentary for the next 47 days. According to Buckingham, Healey’s “victory” speech (in which she heroically prevailed over “blank”) was “the best she’s given in four years in office”; its timing (an hour or so before Patrick’s) was a “strategic masterstroke” (that one’s particularly laughable – like she had a choice); her speaking style was “natural and tough, without being off-putting”; and Buckingham even approves of her hairstyle and clothing. That’s pretty much all you need to know. Honestly, the Healey campaign should be paying half of Buckingham’s salary for the next few weeks.
Also, Margery Eagan has a hilarious column in which she gets Howie Carr to explain to her what a “moonbat” is, and then she goes out to find and talk to a couple.
Finally, the Herald’s editorial board gives a nice shout-out to Gerry Leone, who will be the next District Attorney for Middlesex County. They describe him as a “rising star” and “a face to watch.” We think so too.
cephme says
“would just about walk through walls for Patrick”
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In my sleep deprived primary day stupor I did just that. While at a phone bank in Waltham I was walking to our coordinator’s table in the adjoining room while looking down at my call sheet and walked in to the glass wall separating the two rooms. So I can officially say I have at least walked in to a wall if not through a wall for him already.
hoyapaul says
is right on.
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I would add that another major attribute that will help Deval is his lengthy business experience. Not only will this help him as Governor, but it will help him on the campaign to help diffuse attacks that he’s this big-time scary liberal. I think his line is good — he’s been in the corporate boardrooms and been successful, which you cannot do if you’re some sort of radicial liberal.
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This sort of message has come through already — I can’t say enough how impressed I was looking at the specific primary voting numbers, and seeing Patrick do very well not only in places like Somerville and Cambridge, but in moderate/conservative Dem places like Fall River, Springfield, etc. as well. That bodes well for him campaign.
will says
…I wouldn’t call Healey a genius, but I would call her press rep one. I worked the polls for a local race all day and when I got into my car at 10pm, hadn’t heard a whisper about the gov’s race. I ran thru the usual talk statations…and they were all>/b> covering Healey! I couldn’t believe it. I thought, the Dems just had a hotly contested primary which should by now have a result…how is anything Healey is doing right now news? But apparently a very smart press secretary somewhere had convinced not just the AM conservative stations, but also WBUR, that it was. I had to listen for 20, count them 20 full minutes before I heard…”will face the Democratic victor in today’s primary, Deval Patrick.” It was one of those moments that just didn’t seem real.
will says