Cape Politics

What I Learned in Springfield

I was a delegate to the Democratic State Convention this weekend
The Cape Cod delegation was noticeable by its absence

Treasurer Tim Cahill will not be running for Governor in 2010. I deduced this from the fact that he was not at the convention! Anyone running for Governor next year absolutely positively had to be at this year's convention. Waiting until next year's nominating convention would be too late and risk not even getting the 15% minimum to get on the ballot.

AG Martha Coakley is running for US Senate.  She was at the Convention big time, with the biggest and best visibility. Realistically she's staking out the "somebody other than a Kennedy" territory despite her claims that she's waiting for John Kerry to retire.

Senate President Therese Murray was not there. Neither was State Senator Rob O'Leary. In fact, no member of the Cape Cod delegation was there. My guess is that they've gone into hiding until next year.

Lt. Gov. Tim Murray is running scared. He too was at the Convention in a big way, hosting a pre-convention party. He's raised alot of money this year and he's spending it. But for what? Getting re-elected Lt. Governor? He correctly assumes that he is vulnerable.

Anyone who thinks that Deval Patrick will not finish out his second term would be smart to run for Lt. Governor next year.

Congressman Mike Capuano will be running for Governor.  Maybe not in 2010, but someday. So he is making the most of his early endorsement of Deval Patrick while he still can. The Governor made only one stop before the Convention Saturday morning; a breakfast hosted by Capuano.

President Barack Obama loomed large at this convention. Everyone was wearing their Obama '08 buttons.  They played the Wil.i.am music video. David Plouf gave the keynote address. We Democrats still can't believe our luck.

This was Governor Deval Patrick's convention. He gave another memorable speech. 2000 delegates are already committed to his re-election. And for the most part, the legislature was invisible. Except for House Speaker Robert DeLeo, there was only a smattering of State Reps. He did commit to ethics reform in his speech. That might one day look good in his pre-trial hearing.

Senate President Therese Murray was not there. Neither was State Senator Rob O'Leary. In fact, no member of the Cape Cod delegation was in the Mass Mutual Center, or in Springfield. My guess is that they've gone into hiding until next year.