Hillary has Massachusetts House Speaker DeMasi + 80 local lawmakers to fight Kerry, Kennedy

[Herman Munster]

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2008/01/27/clinton_obama_campaigns_gear_up_for_bay_state_primary_battle/

One of the biggest backers here is House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi, D-Boston. DiMasi is leading a group of more than 80 lawmakers in the House and Senate who are turning over their local operations to the Clinton campaign.

DiMasi says Clinton has the experience to hit the ground running, and took a veiled swipe of his own at Patrick when asked about the similarities between Patrick and Obama, both of whom DiMasi has suggested are political novices.

more stories like this"I might have been a little critical at the beginning about saying that someone without any experience in government, who doesn't have the ability to understand the legislative process, was someone who had to learn a lot," DiMasi said during a Clinton organizing event this week.

"To be perfectly honest, I really don't want my president to be in there on a learning process for the first six months to a year," he added. "It's too important."

At the campaigns' nerve centers in Somerville and Dorchester, the focus is on reaching voters and persuading them to support their candidate.

[Freida5]

1. Good news thanks for the post

[neutron]

29. BRAVO!

personally I don't think sitting Senators had any business making endorsements.
Kucinich, Kerry, Kennedy should have stayed neutral.

Since they started, it should be wide open for everybody.

[DS1]

2. That argument has never affected an election

When was the last time we elected a Senator?


Besides, Teddy's probably looking forward to it, he's probably itching for a fight.

Bring it.

[babylonsister]

3. What's there to fight? Kerry and Kennedy endorsed someone. Is this

designed to spin the endorsement? I don't get it. And an endorsement is basically an opinion; whose opinion are they trying to change?

[Herman Munster]

5. Massachusetts delegates

It'll be embarassing for Kerry and Kennedy when Hillary takes Massachusetts by a good margin.

[skipos]

6. It will be embarassing when Hillary gets the nomination and loses to McCain

because so many Dems choose to vote for Nader or Bloomberg. Oh well.

[MADem]

20. Uh, people who vote for "Nader" or "Bloomberg" are not DEMS.

They're ASSHOLES.

[Maven]

22. ...

:rofl:

[paulk]

25. beat me to it....

[fujiyama]

34. or idiots...

or both...

I don't like Hillary at all...but McCain is running on launching more wars! He's insane!

[babylonsister]

7. Gotcha. Thanks. nt

[AX10]

18. Yes it will.

[thunder rising]

4. So MASS does have a DLC political machine. Notice it's policos and not true volunteers

The old DLC machine swings into action.

[babylonsister]

10. It seems so-good point. nt

[MADem]

14. Barney Frank? DLC?

:rofl:

[Leopolds Ghost]

35. Yes.

Economically conservative / Social liberal means DLC.

[MADem]

40. No it doesn't. DLC means one is a MEMBER of that organization.

And Barney isn't "economically conservative." He is a pragmatist who isn't wasteful, and he's fiscally RESPONSIBLE. There's a difference.

He thinks bills should be paid and debt reduced/managed. That's not conservative--that's simply "not stupid."

[mrreowwr_kittty]

16. In my state, the first thing the Clinton campaign did was set up a steering committee

Because pretty much everyone was a member of local political elite, so they all had to have a "title". When they (finally) opened their campaign office here it was about a week before they realized their phone lines didn't work.

[Beacool]

8. Thank you Speaker DiMasi!!!

I totally agree with his statement:

"To be perfectly honest, I really don't want my president to be in there on a learning process for the first six months to a year," he added. "It's too important."


Go Hillary, don't let the turkeys get you down!!!!!!!!!!

[Tellurian]

9. Yes, a battle of theTitans..

I can't say the state is absolutely thrilled with Patrick. We were driving to the Airport the other night and his driver in a black ATV had to hit speeds of 75mph driving through the tunnel cutting us off as he zig-zagged his way to the front of the traffic. I couldn't tell if Patrick was aboard not with the black tinted windows. Yep, he sure left a good impression after almost rear ending us as he passed us like a bat outta hell!

[desi]

11. Is this true?

I just read that three of RFK's kids have endorsed Sen. Clinton. If so then it will also be a battle between the Kennedys.

[Tellurian]

37. fine by me!

they may be hedging their bets.

[beachmom]

12. You're spreading rumors about the Democratic governor of Mass?

Disgusting.

[Tellurian]

33. It's not a rumor, it's True..

[Leopolds Ghost]

36. I bet he was driving an expensve car with the subwoofers blasting.

And white women in the back seat... Disgusting right?

[Tellurian]

38. Oh, so you were there?

[MADem]

13. And Barney Frank, the sharpest knife in the drawer... NT

[babylonsister]

17. Yes, but his sister is a major spokesperson for Clinton's campaign,

so his opinion doesn't wash with me, at all.

[MADem]

19. Whatever.

I think he'd make a great VP, myself.

[babylonsister]

30. LOL!

THAT'S changing the subject! :rofl:

[mrreowwr_kittty]

15. A state legislator disparaging another (former) state legislator

And I'm supposed to care what he thinks, why?

[Tulkas]

21. 81 little people ... oh no... scary..... Kerry and Kennedy are the big names

[AX10]

24. So demeaning, So..

Obama-esque.

[babylonsister]

31. Umm, except Hillary and co. are doing it. nt

[Big Blue Marble]

26. They will draw the crowds.

They each have their own instate organizations to bring to Obama's support.

[MadBadger]

23. Kerry, Kennedy, and Patrick I might add.

[LittleBlue]

27. I don't think a state speaker and local reps = Kennedys, Senators, and the governor

Very few people in a given state know who their state speaker is.

[mrreowwr_kittty]

28. No shit. I worked on my friend's state senate race here in AZ in 2006.

You wouldn't believe how many voters I canvassed asked if she was running against John McCain! He's a US Senator and he wasn't even running that year. Goes to show how uninformed people are.

[johnnydrama]

32. good for Hillary

but not the same.

Kennedy will be traveling the country with and for Obama. Those people might help sway a few votes in MA, but don't have the national reach that Kennedy & Kerry do.

Kennedy's endorsement helps negate the charge that Obama is inexperienced, because who's more experienced than Kennedy.

[THUNDER HANDS]

39. it's the same thing on Long Island

everyone who works in the machine government lined up behind Clinton because they want federal jobs. And those who already have federal jobs - like Kerry and Kennedy - are supporting Obama.

[Armstead]

41. Same guys who helped bring us Mittcare mandatory health insurance?