Globe: Wild card looms in governor's race (Gabrieli)

[Eugene]

Wild card looms in governor's race

Gabrieli receptive to a petition drive

By Frank Phillips, Globe Staff | February 14, 2006

Wealthy businessman Christopher Gabrieli, rejected as a lieutenant governor running mate by
Attorney General Thomas F. Reilly, has told Democratic Party officials that he is receptive
to jumping into the race for governor and has given the green light to his supporters
to marshal support for him at the party's June convention.

At least three-dozen Democratic activists, with Gabrieli's blessing, have for several days
been seeking signatures on a petition that would allow Gabrieli's name to be put before the
June 4 convention as a gubernatorial candidate, according to two organizers of the signature
drive.

Gabrieli needs 500 delegates to sign the petition to be considered at the convention. The petition
is due in late April. If he clears that hurdle, the next step is to win support of 15 percent
of the delegates at the convention needed to qualify for the September ballot. Gabrieli has told
supporters he would probably take a poll to see if he can be a viable candidate.

<snip>

Full article: http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2006/02/14/wild_card_looms_in_governors_race

[merbex]

1. The whole article is troubling for a couple of reasons

the Party honchos are going to be meeting because the rules say someone like Gabrielli has to get 500 signatures of ELECTED delegates

Not special delegates

ELECTED Delegates

I'm an elected Patrick delegate - I'm not signing Gabrielli's papers and I don't know any Patrick supporters who would

Gabrielli has to get them from Reilly supporters or we all know those delegates who ran as "uncommitted"(union mostly, who wanted to play kingmaker)

I'm nervous about the Party honchos changing the rules to allow Gabrielli to collect signatures from ANY delegate elected or not

But I do think this whole thing is a slap at Reilly

Stick a fork in Reilly- he's done

[merbex]

2. One more thing: it's also in the Herald where they say that "turmoil"

in democratic filed has prompted this effort

The only "turmoil" is in the Reilly camp and among those Beacon Hill insiders who do not have that "special relationship"with the WINNER of the Democratic caucus' that they feel they should have

Because they are "insiders" and it goes against the grain for these "insiders" to have a front runner, DEVAL PATRICK, not be on a first name basis with these "insiders"

This is all about EGO and Reilly's massive f***-up

AND about Deval Patrick's really terrific, effective, grassroots push