Posted on 09/17/2002 5:21:29 PM PDT by Momaw Nadon
Polls have closed in the Massachusetts primary election, and candidates are waiting for returns to come in.
Four Democrats fought for the gubernatorial nomination in the most expensive primary in the state's history, with more than $15 million spent. Two of the candidates -- Shannon O'Brien and Tom Birmingham -- were well-financed, a third -- Warren Tolman -- benefited from a court ruling, and the fourth -- Robert Reich -- ran a quirky campaign on a shoestring budget.
Reich pulled an all-nighter, campaigning across Greater Boston from 7 p.m. Monday to Tuesday morning. He refused to put much of his own money in the race and campaigned on the premise that he was the only true outsider, having never held elective office.
"I am very confident, because all of the data we've seen and all of my free-floating focus groups suggest that we do have the enthusiasm, we do have the excitement, we do have people who are full committed," Reich said.
O'Brien was the frontrunner early on, but recent polls have been mixed, with some showing slim leads and others showing more substantial ones.
"I've been honored to have had the opportunity to run for governor," O'Brien said. "I'm honored that I have been able to work with so many terrific Democrats and independents across Massachusetts. I think there are many people who are looking for new leadership."
Tolman gambled big by running as a Clean Elections candidate, despite the law not being funded by the Legislature. He won the jackpot when the Supreme Judicial Court decided the state had to turn over nearly $4 million to fund his campaign. Tuesday, he said that he's hoping to show the voters their money was not wasted.
"If you've done everything you can, you feel like, 'Hey, here goes. Let's let the people decide,'" Tolman said. "So I'm hoping that people look kindly on me. Nerves are something if you haven't prepared, I think, you get nervous. But we've prepared. I think we've done everything we can."
Birmingham gave up his secure Senate presidency to campaign statewide. He made a big pitch for the women's vote, but his campaign is counting on labor unions to get the vote out.
"This is going to be a good turnout, and we are hitting our peak at the absolute right moment," Birmingham said. "It feels like the momentum has completely swung our way."
Turnout has been light in the Democratic primary, which analysts said would favor O'Brien and Birmingham, who have the most extensive field operations.
Romney Fights For Healey
Republican candidate Mitt Romney spent the past few days trying to convince voters that his pick for lieutenant governor, Kerry Healey, is essential to his success in November.
Healey, a moderate Republican, is matched against businessman Jim Rappaport, who has cast himself as the race's true conservative.
"I'm very excited about the prospect of working with Mitt for the next seven weeks," Healey said. "It's going to be an absolute sprint to the finish, and we're going to beat the Democrats in November."
Polls showed the race to be tight. Rappaport said that he is more qualified than Healey for the office, especially if Romney follows the trend of recent Republican governors to leave office early.
"I am more qualified to step up and be the acting governor, if the need arises, than my opponent," Rappaport said. "I have the leadership and executive decision-making experience that my opponent doesn't have, and if the need arises we need to have a strong No. 2."
Romney would not discuss the possibility of being paired with Rappaport.
"I can't let myself even think that way. I'm so confident that Kerry has received such strong support," Romney said. "I've heard that so uniformly from our field team that's out talking to people ... that people who were undecided are now pulling for Kerry. I'm confident that she's going to be there, and I don't have any room in my little brain for more than that outcome."
I'd move out of the state rather than post such an embarrassing admission here.
Explain. Why is this embarrassing?
The lieutenant governor position is being contested between Kerry Healey and Jim Rappaport.
Romney favors Healey.
If Reich wins on the Democrat side, then Romney will be running against a lollipop kid.
I do wish that MA was more conservative.
IMHO, the reason for Massachussets being so liberal is that the state is bombarded with Democrat propaganda by the Boston Globe every day of the year.
It would be great if a Republican billionaire could buy the paper and present a more fair and balanced view in the major daily newspaper.
Just another liberal RINO in every sense of the term: on abortion, "gays", 2nd Amendment... etc. etc.
"Conservative" doesn't apply to these two candidates at all.
Other than he, there are no actual conservatives running in either party.
I'm moving. Think I'll join Fred Reed in Mexico.
That will be on the ballot in the general election.
And yes, I will vote to repeal the state income tax.
I've had no problems critiqueing RINOs in my native state of Pennsylvania, RINOs in Michigan where I lived when I joined this forum, and now Nevada RINOs where I currently reside.
Massachusettes RINOs are fair game, whether you like it or not.
It is unfortunate that they are not an endangered species.
In Massachusetts, Lieutenant Governors have a way of ending up Governor.
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