Holy smokes — if this is true, we’re in for a colorful next few years if Patrick wins. I thought the Healey Three did protest too much that they *actually* supported Deval Patrick, even as they sang Kerry Healey’s praises in public just two days after the primary. But now Kim Atkins says sources from both the Healey campaign and the Democratic Party are telling her that Sen. Steven Baddour (D-Methuen) made commitments to help out the Healey campaign:
He repeatedly contacted our campaign behind the scenes offering to do field work as well as fund raising, said the Healey Committee official. Clearly, the senator is trying to cover his bases.
Baddour, who spoke to the Herald via cell phone while en route to a Patrick event, said he is friendly with many Republicans – including some working for Healeys campaign – and may have made joking comments that he would back Healey after the Democratic candidate he backed – Attorney General Tom Reilly – lost the primary. But he said he never, never offered to help Healey on the stump.
That is absolutely not true, Baddour said. I am 100 percent with Deval Patrick and Tim Murray.
… But Democratic sources told the Herald that Baddour had conversations with Democratic associates before the primary, saying that if Reilly lost, he would reach out to Healey. He said he was going to call Healey first thing Wednesday morning after the primary, one source said.
Well, either Kim’s sources or Baddour are not telling the truth. I have to say that so far, the evidence favors Kim’s sources: What exactly were Baddour & Co. doing lauding Healey in the middle of a campaign? “What — is there a campaign going on? Who knew?”
Here’s my hypothesis: The Healey Three actually believed the line that Patrick was unelectable — in spite of all evidence to the contrary. So they jumped onto the Healey bandwagon — good seats still available — as soon as the real campaign started. The very next day, Patrick’s sporting a 39-point lead in the polls. Oops. Damage control, anyone?
Now here’s the interesting thing: If the reports are true, what exactly did Baddour have to gain from a Healey administration that he couldn’t get from a Patrick administration? Any thoughts?
the senate and house could kick Healey around, left and right. Not so for a powerful Democratic Governor, who will wield the large number of very progressive officials in our congressional halls.
Patrick isn’t one to consider recriminations against this gang; however that they are so out of touch with the electorate and even their own constituency doesn’t bode well for their long-term survival in this changing political scene.
Keep the pressure on the legislative leadership. Let’s make sure the DINOs get the power and influence they deserve. An appointment to the committee for Federal Financial Assistance and a windowless
closetoffice next to the garage would be a fitting reward.Imagine the following senerio: Someone is applying to a court position somewhere in the Merrimac Valley. “I’m really interested in that job.” High hopes abound.
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A few crossovers with their eyes on the prize, that have helped Healey, now get “veto” power over patronage moves in their area.
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Maybe Baddour has sights on Marty Meehan’s seat if Marty decides to go, say for John Kerry’s seat up in 2008. JFK can’t do what LBJ did, run for both US Senate re-election AND on the Presidential ticket, without State House Legislation. None yet on the horizon.
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Baddour’s Methuen based Senate District is not contiguous inside Marty’s CD (Congressional District). For Healey, it’s a win-win. She just has to let the perception Baddour controls patronage in the CD last until he’s elected (or defeated) for congress in two years. Once he’s achieved the next step up, he doesn’t need it either.
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All of the above is just speculation. But you get the idea how it might work for the Healey-Baddour alignment.
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Message to Baddour: If I were you, I’d be on the phone right now to John Walsh telling him (not for public consumption, that you really fu**ed up) you want to start being seen as far outfront for Deval as possible. Politics is a great sport here in Massachusetts, and it seems things have gotten a little bit too much out of control.
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p> Payback is a bitch. Well, now’s the time to convince us you want Deval to win. Look on the bright side. Maybe someday you could be Mayor of Methuen.
and the surrounding towns, a significant part of the district and possibly the anchor. Let alone the 15 towns in the district to the south and west of Lowell. He’s got a big population base there in the Methuen/Lawrence/Andover area (and I don’t know the political scenes in those towns) but it certainly doesn’t swing the district.
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I think assigning him big time influence in the “Merrimack Valley” is exaggerating it a bit, I’m here and very active and I don’t see it. Influential in Methuen, I’m sure. He’s not even the only one in his area, Andover, Dracut, Tewksbury and Lawrence, the biggest population centers near him inside of MA-05 are all represented by Sen Susan Tucker.
The question was, “What is in it for Baddour if Healey wins the Governor’s office?”
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One possible answer would be increased “influence” within the Healey/Hillman administration in the Valley area. So Baddour in covering his bases in that senario, would expect that it would be the Healey administration he would have influence with, translating into making Baddour the “go to guy” to get anything done. Then the influence starts to accumulate…
I thought you were implying that he had significant influence as it stands now. I get the politicking, and it blows my mind that these guys (and apparently Healey based on her advertising before the primary) thought Patrick would be a cakewalk because he’s “too liberal”. Reminds me of conservatives who keep telling themselves that Bush I lost because he didn’t cut taxes.
Backing the right horse and all that hub bub.
If being in back of a horse was what he wanted to do, I’d say mission accomplished.
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Where do those blockquotes come from? Do you have a link?
visually break up the posts/comments to make something stand out. The premise of my comment should all be taken based on the first sentence above:
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So it is all hypothetical.