QUOTE
Democrats give Patrick resounding nomination
Gabrieli just makes ballot; Reilly firmly in second
By Frank Phillips and Scott Helman, Globe Staff | June 3, 2006
WORCESTER --Deval Patrick, a political novice whose campaign for governor has stirred the grass roots of the Massachusetts Democratic Party, won a strong endorsement at the state convention yesterday, outpacing two well-established and well-funded political figures.
After a day of nail-biting, venture capitalist Chris Gabrieli barely just squeaked past the 15 percent threshold of delegate support required to also win a place on the ballot for the Sept. 19 primary. Attorney General Thomas F. Reilly, who received 27 percent, will join them.
The results set the stage for what is expected to be a very competitive, expensive, and difficult-to-predict contest for the Democratic nomination.
Patrick, denouncing what he said is the party's "politics as usual" culture and "backroom" dealings, received the backing of 58 percent of the 4,400 delegates.
"I came from nearly nothing to a decisive victory in the convention, so I'm thrilled," he said after accepting the endorsement. "There's something fundamentally threatening about being an outsider candidate . . . but that's not going to deter me, because that's what I believe we need right now in Massachusetts."
The victory makes Patrick the first African-American to be endorsed by a major political party for governor in Massachusetts history. His 10-minute speech to the delegates, touching on his path as a frightened 14-year-old boy from Chicago's South Side to elite education and success in Massachusets, made some in the crowd weep.
"I've been around elected officials for a very long time," said Bruce Bolling, a former Boston City Council president. "There are very few people I find as impressive as he is. He is so much an American story. His ability to communicate and touch the heartstrings of people is absolutely phenomenal."
Patrick's nomination, while expected, capped a one-year campaign during which he has emerged as a serious force on state's political landscape. The one-time civil rights enforcer has built a political field organization and raised significant donations from within the state and from around the country.
Just a year ago, he had no political roots nor a campaign infrastructure when he launched his candidacy.
In the lieutenant governor's race, Timothy Murray, the Worcester mayor, won the convention's endorsement, while Andrea Silbert, a former nonprofit leader from the Cape, and Deborah Goldberg, a former Brookline selectwoman, also won spots on the ballot.
Secretary of State William F. Galvin, seeking his fourth term, handily won the convention endorsement, getting 71 percent, while his Democratic challenger, John Bonifaz, a voting rights lawyer, got 29 percent.
The only suspense of the day was whether Gabrieli, the party's lieutenant governor candidate in 2002 and a wealthy venture capitalilst, would clear the 15 percent mark necessary to advance to the primary. Gabrieli has poured $2.6 million of his own money into his campaign over the past two months, most of it going to a huge television media blitz to establish himself as a credible candidate.
"This has been a battle royale," Gabrieli told reporters. The final tally showed that Gabrieli made it onto the ballot with just 17 votes to spare.
The vote came after a day of manueverings both on the convention floor and in the backrooms.
Gabrieli got some last-minute help from political leaders who controlled blocs of votes, but his aides insisted no deal were cut, particularly with the Reilly campaign.
Gabrieli appeared to attract delegates who arrived at the DCU Center still undecided. Dorsey P. Dugan, a 31-year old financial analyst from Quincy, said he had made up his mind during the drive to Worcester yesterday morning. He said he is impressed by Gabrieli's work on education and economic development, and Gabrieli was the only candidate who reached out to him personally.
"I would have supported Deval Patrick but I never heard from him," Dugan said.
Gabrieli did receive help from some who controlled delegates, including the mayor of Quincy. But others who controlled blocs of delegates held back, despite his pleas for help. Mayor Thomas M. Menino, who has lined up his political operation behind Reilly, did not appear to budge, sticking with the attorney general.
Patrick drew his support broadly, from liberal activists from throughout the state and some constituent groups, including gays and lesbians and some environmental groups. He also received assistance from members of the state's congressional delegation, including Representatives Barney Frank of Newton, James McGovern of Worcester, John Olver of Amherst, John Tierney of Salem, and Michael Capuano of Somerville.
Reilly, who early on decided to limit his convention effort to win a place on the primary ballot and not an endorsement, relied heavily on the party's veteran city politicians who represent more blue-collar constituencies. Menino, Senate President Robert Travaglini, House Speaker Leader Salvatore F. DiMasi, and a host of other state senators and representatives provided Reilly with the backbone of his convention effort.
The nominee will face Lieutenant Governor Kerry Healey, Green Rainbow candidate Grace Ross, and Independent Christy Mihos in the general election.
Gabrieli, Patrick, and Reilly each used their speeches and videos to highlight the themes and strengths of their campaigns.
Gabrieli cited his experience in job creation, promised to end the exodus of residents from the state, and slammed Healey for only recently coming out in favor of stem cell research, which he has proposed the state invest in heavily.
"In four years, you haven't had the courage to stand up to your party on this," Gabrieli said. "Why should we trust you now?"
Healey has argued that Massachusetts must keep electing Republicans as governors to keep a check on the overwhelmingly Democratic Legislature.
"It's not about balance, it's about results," Gabrieli said. ``I'll put my results against Kerry Healey anytime."
Patrick went next, celebrating what he calls his "politics of hope" and the grass-roots campaign he's conducted statewide.
"I don't have the insider connections and the money that the other candidates do," Patrick said. "But what I do have is a vision and plan for leadership, and a plan to move us forward, and a ground organization unlike anything this state has ever seen."
As he often does, Patrick declared that he was ready to challenge the political culture and the cynicism that he says dominates politics and the media.
"It's time to put our cynicism down. Put it down," Patrick said. "If you're ready to put it down, stand with me." Most of the hall then did, giving him a rousing sendoff.
Reilly touted his experience as a public servant and dubbed himself "the Republican Party's worst nightmare come November."
"Tom Reilly and his office have made a difference," said the narrator in Reilly's video.
Reilly then detailed his accomplishments as Middlesex district attorney and attorney general, and he made clear that he saw his constituency not in the convention hall yesterday but those outside the Democratic establishment.
"There are hundreds of thousands of people not in this hall today who will also make a big difference in November. They are the independent-minded voters of Massachusetts," Reilly said. ``We have to show them that we care about their interests more than any special interests."
Gabrieli just makes ballot; Reilly firmly in second
By Frank Phillips and Scott Helman, Globe Staff | June 3, 2006
WORCESTER --Deval Patrick, a political novice whose campaign for governor has stirred the grass roots of the Massachusetts Democratic Party, won a strong endorsement at the state convention yesterday, outpacing two well-established and well-funded political figures.
After a day of nail-biting, venture capitalist Chris Gabrieli barely just squeaked past the 15 percent threshold of delegate support required to also win a place on the ballot for the Sept. 19 primary. Attorney General Thomas F. Reilly, who received 27 percent, will join them.
The results set the stage for what is expected to be a very competitive, expensive, and difficult-to-predict contest for the Democratic nomination.
Patrick, denouncing what he said is the party's "politics as usual" culture and "backroom" dealings, received the backing of 58 percent of the 4,400 delegates.
"I came from nearly nothing to a decisive victory in the convention, so I'm thrilled," he said after accepting the endorsement. "There's something fundamentally threatening about being an outsider candidate . . . but that's not going to deter me, because that's what I believe we need right now in Massachusetts."
The victory makes Patrick the first African-American to be endorsed by a major political party for governor in Massachusetts history. His 10-minute speech to the delegates, touching on his path as a frightened 14-year-old boy from Chicago's South Side to elite education and success in Massachusets, made some in the crowd weep.
"I've been around elected officials for a very long time," said Bruce Bolling, a former Boston City Council president. "There are very few people I find as impressive as he is. He is so much an American story. His ability to communicate and touch the heartstrings of people is absolutely phenomenal."
Patrick's nomination, while expected, capped a one-year campaign during which he has emerged as a serious force on state's political landscape. The one-time civil rights enforcer has built a political field organization and raised significant donations from within the state and from around the country.
Just a year ago, he had no political roots nor a campaign infrastructure when he launched his candidacy.
In the lieutenant governor's race, Timothy Murray, the Worcester mayor, won the convention's endorsement, while Andrea Silbert, a former nonprofit leader from the Cape, and Deborah Goldberg, a former Brookline selectwoman, also won spots on the ballot.
Secretary of State William F. Galvin, seeking his fourth term, handily won the convention endorsement, getting 71 percent, while his Democratic challenger, John Bonifaz, a voting rights lawyer, got 29 percent.
The only suspense of the day was whether Gabrieli, the party's lieutenant governor candidate in 2002 and a wealthy venture capitalilst, would clear the 15 percent mark necessary to advance to the primary. Gabrieli has poured $2.6 million of his own money into his campaign over the past two months, most of it going to a huge television media blitz to establish himself as a credible candidate.
"This has been a battle royale," Gabrieli told reporters. The final tally showed that Gabrieli made it onto the ballot with just 17 votes to spare.
The vote came after a day of manueverings both on the convention floor and in the backrooms.
Gabrieli got some last-minute help from political leaders who controlled blocs of votes, but his aides insisted no deal were cut, particularly with the Reilly campaign.
Gabrieli appeared to attract delegates who arrived at the DCU Center still undecided. Dorsey P. Dugan, a 31-year old financial analyst from Quincy, said he had made up his mind during the drive to Worcester yesterday morning. He said he is impressed by Gabrieli's work on education and economic development, and Gabrieli was the only candidate who reached out to him personally.
"I would have supported Deval Patrick but I never heard from him," Dugan said.
Gabrieli did receive help from some who controlled delegates, including the mayor of Quincy. But others who controlled blocs of delegates held back, despite his pleas for help. Mayor Thomas M. Menino, who has lined up his political operation behind Reilly, did not appear to budge, sticking with the attorney general.
Patrick drew his support broadly, from liberal activists from throughout the state and some constituent groups, including gays and lesbians and some environmental groups. He also received assistance from members of the state's congressional delegation, including Representatives Barney Frank of Newton, James McGovern of Worcester, John Olver of Amherst, John Tierney of Salem, and Michael Capuano of Somerville.
Reilly, who early on decided to limit his convention effort to win a place on the primary ballot and not an endorsement, relied heavily on the party's veteran city politicians who represent more blue-collar constituencies. Menino, Senate President Robert Travaglini, House Speaker Leader Salvatore F. DiMasi, and a host of other state senators and representatives provided Reilly with the backbone of his convention effort.
The nominee will face Lieutenant Governor Kerry Healey, Green Rainbow candidate Grace Ross, and Independent Christy Mihos in the general election.
Gabrieli, Patrick, and Reilly each used their speeches and videos to highlight the themes and strengths of their campaigns.
Gabrieli cited his experience in job creation, promised to end the exodus of residents from the state, and slammed Healey for only recently coming out in favor of stem cell research, which he has proposed the state invest in heavily.
"In four years, you haven't had the courage to stand up to your party on this," Gabrieli said. "Why should we trust you now?"
Healey has argued that Massachusetts must keep electing Republicans as governors to keep a check on the overwhelmingly Democratic Legislature.
"It's not about balance, it's about results," Gabrieli said. ``I'll put my results against Kerry Healey anytime."
Patrick went next, celebrating what he calls his "politics of hope" and the grass-roots campaign he's conducted statewide.
"I don't have the insider connections and the money that the other candidates do," Patrick said. "But what I do have is a vision and plan for leadership, and a plan to move us forward, and a ground organization unlike anything this state has ever seen."
As he often does, Patrick declared that he was ready to challenge the political culture and the cynicism that he says dominates politics and the media.
"It's time to put our cynicism down. Put it down," Patrick said. "If you're ready to put it down, stand with me." Most of the hall then did, giving him a rousing sendoff.
Reilly touted his experience as a public servant and dubbed himself "the Republican Party's worst nightmare come November."
"Tom Reilly and his office have made a difference," said the narrator in Reilly's video.
Reilly then detailed his accomplishments as Middlesex district attorney and attorney general, and he made clear that he saw his constituency not in the convention hall yesterday but those outside the Democratic establishment.
"There are hundreds of thousands of people not in this hall today who will also make a big difference in November. They are the independent-minded voters of Massachusetts," Reilly said. ``We have to show them that we care about their interests more than any special interests."