Deval Patrick, making his first run for elective office, emerged from the Democratic State Convention on Saturday as his party’s endorsed gubernatorial candidate, while Tom Reilly and Chris Gabrieli also qualified for the ballot.
Deval Patrick won an overwhelming number of the delegates and took the endorsement of the Democratic party. Democratic voters will choose one of these three men to challenge Lt. Governor Healey.
Analysts are crediting Patrick with successfully using strong online support to fuel this victory in the traditional field of political battle. This is something that eluded Howard Dean. Reilly’s use of TV ads did not seem to serve him as effectively. But it’s yet to be seen whether this success will carry through to the primary when the general population has its say.
Gabrieli squeaked in to make the ballot cutoff:
Both Reilly and Gabrieli’s spokesman denied engaging in vote-swapping to ensure each reached the ballot, but House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi, D-Boston, said he suggested that some of his North End supporters consider Gabrieli instead of Reilly.
Hmmmm!
Patrick’s politics run quite liberal. Reilly and Gabrieli may just split the moderate vote, giving Patrick that much more of an advantage in the primary.