Today’s Woodlief, in a nutshell:
Some pundits say Reilly’s all done. But I’ve covered the guy through two decades. I’d never write him off.
Well, insofar as I qualify as a “pundit”, that would be me, among others. I bow to Woodlief’s experience and insight, and admit Reilly’s obvious strengths: Institutional support, name recognition and a populist instinct.
That being said, Reilly is up against a hell of a field. Gabrieli is not just a money-bags candidate; he’s well-positioned, well-spoken, and passionate in his (now-admittedly) technocratic way. Patrick can light up a room in a way that makes him seem (to me) to be unbeatable. This is no ordinary race. And I’d love to see or hear evidence that the comparisons to the 2002 Birmingham campaign are not apt: Strong elected-official and union support … no results. Those are both good, of course, but do they trump Patrick’s grassroots ops and Gabs’ millions?
So in my disgust over the Killer Coke fiasco, I’ve been hasty to dismiss Reilly’s chances. But I’d like to see Reilly lead in one of these polls before I start getting too worried about getting that tattoo.
southshoreguy says
I just posted on Reilly’s ads in another spot, so I will provide a summarized version here. Reilly may not be done, but his move to negative ads are indicative that he knows what we all suspected and/or knew. He’s in third place and needs to change the equation. Both Gabrieli and Patrick have provided & disclosed what is required. It is interesting, however, that Reilly is focusing attention on two candidates who actually filed tax returns, but will not release them to the public. On the other hand, this is the same guy who earlier this year was willing to run with a woman on his ticket who did not pay her taxes. Brilliant!
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The key now will be if, how, where, and when Patrick and/or Gabrieli respond/fire back.
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political-inaction says
I hate to nitpick, but does Reilly really have a “populist instinct” as a strength?
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His main populist message seems to be along the lines of ‘I rent, so I must be poor, just like you’.
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In my mind a populist is someone that actually speaks to people’s hearts. A populist is someone who connects on a gut level. A populist can deliver a speech with cadence.
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Reilly may be many things, but a populist is not one of them (at least in my book).
trickle-up says
and it’s not nitpicking, because it’s about his natural strengths and weaknesses.
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The populist stuff is thematically at odds with his insider strengths, so it doesn’t help him as much as it might.
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I don’t assume the working-stiff stuff is insincere, but it comes off that way, and it blunts the sense of who he really is.
maverickdem says
Wayne: Tom Reilly is right in the thick of it. . .and gaining momentum.
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Charley: Reilly is a populist, which, by definition, is “a supporter of the rights and power of the people.”