Can’t wait to see where Kerry Healey throws her weight.
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Former acting governor Swift to endorse McCain
By Stephanie Ebbert, Globe Staff
Former acting governor Jane Swift, who bowed out of contention for the 2002 governor’s race when Mitt Romney launched a campaign, will endorse US Senator John McCain of Arizona today for president.
Swift is expected to serve as an education adviser for McCain, who is exploring a run for the GOP nomination for president. Romney, who is also a Republican, formally kicked off his presidential campaign on Tuesday.
Swift, who took office when former governor Paul Cellucci left to become ambassador to Canada, was stung in 2002 when Republican activists began rallying for a Romney candidacy for governor. At the time, Romney was returning to Massachusetts after successfully leading the Salt Lake Winter Olympics and was viewed as a stronger candidate who could retain the Republicans’ hold on the corner office. Swift protested that “powerful men” were trying to nudge her aside.
To the surprise of Beacon Hill observers, she stepped aside willingly on the day Romney announced his candidacy for governor, saying “something had to give.” Swift, the mother of three young children, said she would not be able to wage an ambitious primary campaign while serving as governor and managing her family.
Swift spokesman Jason Kauppi said today that her endorsement of McCain had nothing to do with the past.
“It’s really more about her feelings about Senator McCain — that he’s the person to lead the country,” Kauppi said. “It’s not really a statement about Mitt Romney as it is an endorsement of Senator McCain.”
