Blue Mass Group

Reality-based commentary on politics.

Steve Lynch is Feeling/Fueling Reilly’s Momentum

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Or maybe, the Congressman just believes that Tom Reilly is best prepared to do the job of Governor:

“After these last few Republican governors, we have to have someone in there who can make government work for its intended purpose,” said Lynch, who plans to appear with Reilly at Florian Hall in Dorchester to rally union support today. “He’s got the experience. He knows how the system works. There will be no learning curve for him.” (Boston Globe, 9/5/06

Look for Tom Reilly’s momentum to continue as his “Watertown” ads (“Street”, “Watertown”) resonate strongly with voters.  In fact, I will openly challenge BMG’s pro-Deval blogocracy and state that Tom Reilly’s “Watertown” ads will have greater appeal than Deval Patrick’s latest attempt.  Why?  Simple.  More voters will relate to the simple staircase outside of Tom Reilly’s two-family home and than to Deval Patrick’s photo-op at Faneuil Hall.

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  1. received from Reilly central a few minutes ago:

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    Dear Friends,

    Today, I am proud to stand with my friend Tom Reilly to enthusiastically endorse his candidacy for Governor.

    We have the best candidate, the best vision for Massachusetts’ future and the best organization to bring out our vote and win two weeks from today.

    Tom Reilly is the only Democrat in this race with a proven record of taking on the big fights for Massachusetts workers. He’s fought for us as Attorney General and as District Attorney and he’ll fight for us in the Corner Office.

    As you may know, I’m an ironworker and a former union president. I grew up a lot like Tom, in a neighborhood where many families had difficulty making ends meet. That neighborhood is a lot like many in Massachusetts, where people are struggling now – struggling with how to pay their bills, how they can afford to send their kids to college and how to keep up with the skyrocketing costs of health care, housing, and taxes.

    Tom’s been talking a lot about this on the campaign trail and I think he’s the best candidate in this race with the proven ability to do something about it as our next Governor.

    Yesterday was Labor Day, a day when we celebrate the working people of this state. I happen to think the working people of this state have high expectations of their elected officials and are looking for strong leadership.

    Someone who is eager to actually tackle the problems here in Massachusetts; someone who will roll up their sleeves and take this state in a new direction.

    We want a Governor in the Corner Office who fights for us, who cares about us, who’s with us – not just on Election Day, but every day.

    Tom Reilly is that guy. He grew up in Springfield, son of a city worker and a maid – Irish immigrants who wanted their youngest son to go to college. And he did that.

    Tom Reilly has a record as a fearless prosecutor who stood up for victims and their families, who took guns off our streets and who fought gangs in our neighborhoods and our schools.

    Tom Reilly has been an Attorney General who saved healthcare for a million people who had Harvard-Pilgrim cards in their wallets; and Tom fought for cuts in our auto insurance rates and in our electric bills.

    As Governor, he’ll keep fighting on our side.

    • He’s the one candidate who has the vision to boost our math and science education in our schools;
    • And he’s the one candidate who knows that the University of Massachusetts is the hope of the middle class to afford to send their children to a high quality, affordable college.

    He’s on your side, he’s on my side, and he’ll be on our side as Governor.

    Please join me in supporting Tom Reilly for Governor.

    The primary is two weeks from today and we need your help. We need you to volunteer at our headquarters, we need you to take a lawn sign or bumper sticker and we need you to contribute today.

    This race is a dead heat. Tom has the momentum but we need your help and your work to guarantee a victory in two weeks. Please stand with us on September 19 and again on November 7 as we end 16 years of Republican failures and, together, get Massachusetts moving again.

    Your friend,

    Stephen F. Lynch
    Congressman
    9th District

    • Just having a little fun. . .and trying to make a point in the process!

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      I think Jon Keller does a nice job of sizing-up what people in the bubble are missing:

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      Every wise guy in the state has had a good laugh at the expense of Reilly’s campaign blunders and Joe Friday stump style. Meanwhile, both the latest CBS4 Fast Track and a subsequent Boston Globe poll found Reilly right there in the mix. What gives? It may be hard for political junkies to understand, but both Gabrieli and Patrick are relative unknowns to what may be the swing vote on September 19th. Reilly’s warts have been thoroughly discussed; less attention has been paid to the moments in his career when he’s won voter approval, such as the successful prosecutions of murderous swine like Daniel LaPlante and Eddie O’Brien, and his vehement advocacy for crime victims. Reilly’s career somewhat parallels that of Boston Mayor Tom Menino: always underrated, political skills mocked, but always a winner on election day.

  3. That’s probably why Lynch has endorsed Reilly.  They could be brothers. It is the same old insiders network supporting the same old candidates.  Massachusetts is due for a change. Was this really a surprise? 

    • I was waiting to see who would be the first to present this line of argument.

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      To answer your question – yes, it is always surprising when a significant elected official decides to come off the sidelines within the last few weeks of a campaign.  Steve Lynch isn’t going to wager his neutrality unless he thinks his candidate has got a good chance to win.

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      Additionally, if we are going to casually dismiss Steve Lynch’s support for Tom Reilly, can we do the same for Deval Patrick, i.e., Deval Patrick is supported by liberal MA House members like Jim McGovern/Barney Frank et al. because his is a lefty looney?  Doesn’t that brand of dismiveness and over-simplification cut both ways?

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      On the other hand you are clearly right: Steve Lynch apparently does identify more with Tom Reilly.  The impoertant question, however, is how many voters identify with Steve Lynch and how does that benefit Tom Reilly?

      • just an opportunist?  Some people, like Congressman Jim McGovern, support candidates because they believe in his or her platform, and then they work hard to make sure the candidate wins. 

  4. How many MA congressmen does that leave which have not made an endorsement. As far as I know Markey has not endorsed. Is he the last man standing now?

  5. How many Reilly supporters a week before the election look at a 34-33 race between Patrick and Gabs and Tom at 26 – and decide to jump on board with Patrick as payback to Gabs for “stealing” this from Reilly?

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    Just a question that’s been going through my mind.

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    • Frankly, you could make the argument that Gabrieli is hurting Patrick.  And where did the 34-33-26 figured come from?

  6. Lynch creating momentum? Please, he was a Reilly delegate at the State Convention in June. I actually heard him respond to the senate district teller personally during the roll call vote. He has been with Reilly for months. While we can argue the merits and value of his endorsement – what volunteer power it might provide to the AG, etc. – it is hardly “news” that he supports Reilly. But we cannot for a minute assume that this endorsement arrived because Congressman Lynch determined that somehow Reilly’s campaign has turned a corner in the race. It is nothing more than a well-placed press release calibrated by the Reilly campaign for dramatic effect.

    • in politics there is a BIG difference between voting for somebody at the convention and publicly endorsing them/mobilizing the troops.  It is the difference between personal support and political support.  A very big difference, indeed.

      • Steve Lynch will mobilize the troops?  If Lynch/labor had juice in Massachusetts Tom Birmingham would be running for a second term.  “Union Leader” may jazz ’em in Ward 6 & 7, but beyond Somerville union = baggage.

  7. “In fact, I will openly challenge BMG’s pro-Deval blogocracy and state that Tom Reilly’s “Watertown” ads will have greater appeal than Deval Patrick’s latest attempt.”

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    Well, I’d push a big stack of chips to the center of the table on that bet — Tom Reilly’s poker skills notwithstanding.

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    The question is how do you measure the effectiveness of the respective ads, apart from 9/19 results? I suppose we could go by the difference in the next Survey USA poll that plausibly measures folks who have seen both ads.

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    Call. And I can’t wait for the flop on 9/19. Should be fun.

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    BTW, I’m not surprised at all by Lynch’s endorsement; I would have been shocked had he endorsed Patrick, somewhat surprised if he had endorsed Gabrieli.

  9. Lynch is the  most conservative member of the MA delegation. I think he endorsed for 3 reasons:

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    1 – Reilly begged

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    2 – Reilly is Lynch’s closest ideological match

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    3 – Reilly begged

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  10. I don’t know, but I was at the breakfast Monday where Stephen Lynch spoke and spoke and spoke. The audience was groaning and the MC got up at least three times thinking he was done with his talk, but still he went on and on.  I don’t think his endorsement is meaningful at all.  Endorsements are always sought, but where is the evidence they have any impact on the election.

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    I don’t think it matters, I just watched the debate, and I think Reilly self destructed.  He acted like a worn out fighter swinging wildly in all directions

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