Hark! The Herald! (Democratic Guv Debate)

August 25, 2014

From our Walt Whitman desk

So. Is the Massachusetts Democratic gubernatorial primary primarily – inexorably – changed now that the candidates have had their debate on Boston Herald Radio?

‘Cause that’s what today’s feisty local tabloid promised.

Start, as  always, with Page On, the top half of which touts the Big Bakeoff.

 

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Inside, the Herald has two pages of new/hype in anticipation of the main event.

 

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Tale of the tape:

 

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And just in case you haven’t grasped the transformative power of a debate on Internet radio, the Herald scribes all strike the same chord in their ledes.

Jaclyn Cashman:

Leave your talking points at the door. Save your stump speeches for the campaign trail. At today’s Boston Herald Radio debate, we’re aiming for a free-flowing conversation where we’ll learn more about the three candidates facing off in the Democratic gubernatorial primary.

 

Joe Battenfeld:

It’s a long shot, but there’s still a way for Attorney General Martha Coakley to lose the Democratic gubernatorial nomination, and it would have to start at today’s Boston Herald Radio debate.

Coakley’s campaign is showing signs of cracking. Democratic party leaders are getting worried it will be 2010 all over again.

 

John Nucci:

Believe it or not, the primary election is just over two weeks away, and Democrats face a critical choice on who will represent their party in November. The timing of today’s Democratic gubernatorial debate on Boston Herald Radio makes it pivotal, and likely to set the tone for the closing days.

 

As of 1 pm – the debate’s over, the poll numbers are out – here’s the only coverage the hardsearching staff could find: A Boston Globe online recap.

In bitter debate, Democratic gubernatorial candidates take aim at each other, Baker

In the most bitter debate of Democratic gubernatorial race so far, Treasurer Steven Grossman sharply questioned the judgment of frontrunner Martha Coakley, painting her a protector of the Beacon Hill establishment, as former Medicare and Medicaid chief Don Berwick attacked his two rivals for their support of casino gambling in the state and their years-long embrace of “politics as usual.”

Coakley, the attorney general, defended herself, offered a few hits on Grossman, but also aimed some fire at Republican Charlie Baker, who is expected to be his party’s gubernatorial nominee.

Just over two weeks before the Sept. 9 state primary, the three Democratic candidates vying for their party’s nod upped their rhetoric against each other right from the beginning of an hour-long Boston Herald Radio debate at the newspaper’s Seaport headquarters.

 

Oh, wait – here’s the Herald recap:

Coakley, Grossman and Berwick let loose on Herald Radio debate

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The debate between the Democratic candidates for governor kicked off in high gear today as Treasurer Steve Grossman went on the attack over Attorney General Martha Coakley’s $100,000 settlement with a lobbying group.

“It’s the worst form of judgment,” said Grossman, who slammed what he called the go-easy environment on Beacon Hill.

 

Not so easy-going off Beacon Hill though.

The Herald knows it’s not who listened to the web stream of the debate that will determine its impact. It’s the play the debate gets in the rest of the news media that counts.

Stay tuned.

 

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Shirley the Herald’s Kidding About Grossman’s Mom

August 5, 2014

From our You Never Call, You Never Write desk

There’s been a lot of hoopla about the Super PAC called Mass Forward, which has been ad-whacking gubernatorial candidate Martha Coakley (D-The Weeds) on behalf of gubernatorial hopeful Steve Grossman (D-Everywhere Else). State lawmakers passed a law last week forcing independent expenditure groups to disclose their donors, and the latest ad from Mass Forward does.

 

 

Freeze-frame with disclosure:

 

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Of course the name that jumps right out at you – and the local dailies – is Shirley Grossman. Subsequently this Matt Stout piece appeared in the Boston Herald delivered to the hardreading staff this morning.

A woman with the same name as the mother of state treasurer and gubernatorial candidate Steve Grossman is among the top donors to a Super PAC backing his candidacy.

But the Grossman campaign is refusing to confirm whether the Shirley Grossman listed as a leading contributor to the Mass Forward Super PAC is Grossman’s mother, whose name is also Shirley Grossman . . .

Grossman’s campaign acknowledged that the candidate’s mother has the same name, but otherwise declined comment.

 

But here’s what’s on the Herald website (and in later editions of the paper) now, complete with That’s Just So Mean! photo:

Steve Grossman’s mom a top donor for Super PAC

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State Treasurer Steve Grossman’s 92-year-old mom is a leading donor to a super PAC backing his gubernatorial campaign, the candidate confirmed last night.

“I can tell you, having had the first and only conversation I’ll have with my mother about her contribution this afternoon, she said, ‘Yeah, it was me. I do what I believe is appropriate with my money.’ I said you’re entitled to do what you want, I don’t want to know anything else.”

Grossman said he made the call after donor names were released in a PAC ad, and news broke on Bostonherald.com that his mother was a donor. He said neither he nor his campaign aides were previously aware of her donation, which prompted their cryptic response yesterday, when they would only confirm that Shirley Grossman is his mother’s name. He said he didn’t ask how much she donated.

 

Crosstown, the Boston Globe had the bright idea of going straight to the source from the start, resulting in this Akilah Johnson piece:

New law identifies Super PAC donors

A new state campaign finance law forced the release of the top five donors to a political action committee supporting state Treasurer Steve Grossman’s gubernatorial bid. Among them: his mother.

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“I’m not young. I’m old, and I haven’t been able to do anything for the campaign, and I believe in Steve,” Shirley Grossman said in an interview. “I thought it over. I’m 92 years old. What could I do? I can’t go house to house.”

So, she decided to write a check to the Mass Forward political action committee.

On Monday, she wouldn’t say how much she had contributed, describing it only as “a lot of money.”

 

The moral of this story: Call your (or someone else’s) mother.

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Boston Dailies Are ‘Ghost’ Writers for Martha Coakley

June 16, 2014

From our Late to the Party Convention desk

The local dailies’ coverage of Saturday’s Democratic Party hoedown made it clear that gubernatorial hopeful Mirtha Coakley will be forever haunted by her 2010 U.S. Senate loss to Scott Brown (R-Elsewhere).

Sunday’s Boston Herald front page:

 

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Uh-huh.

Crosstown, from Yvonne Abraham’s column in the Boston Sunday Globe:

Poor Steve Grossman. The treasurer wins the Democratic convention in Worcester, and the people who pay attention to these things will be talking about only Attorney General Martha Coakley, who has been killing him in the polls.

Poor Coakley, too. Her camp did a good job of lowering expectations for Saturday’s party confab, but then struggled to meet even those, with Coakley barely squeaking by former Obama administration official Don Berwick to take second place. Oof.

And so she’ll continue to be dogged by the ghosts of 2010, when she lost a special US Senate election to an empty barn jacket. Those four-year-old echoes can be pretty persistent.

 

Then again, so can Mirtha. Our prediction: Brown won’t mean a thing here come November.

 

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Hark! The Herald! (Wayne’s World Debate Edition)

June 9, 2014

The Boston Herald has slowly evolved into a cross between The Onion and one big selfie.

Exhibit Umpteen: The feisty local tabloid’s hyperventilating coverage today of . . . itself! Specifically the gubernatorial debate the the Herald will stream on its website tomorrow.

Representative samples range from this announcement . . .

 

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. . . to Hillary “Cassandra” Chabot’s dire warning to Martha Coakley . . .

 

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. . . to John “Cassandra” Nucci’s dire warning to everyone else . . .

 

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Wow. So, presumably, there will be a tremendous web audience tomorrow morning, extensive media coverage of the debate, and serious repercussions for the candidates.

Wow.

 

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Is One Local Daily Baker Dozin’?

April 24, 2014

Today’s Boston dailies have two different views about GOP gubernatorial hopeful Charlie Baker’s campaign-finance prospects – one good, the other not so much.

The Boston Globe’s Frank Phillips has this story:

Scott Brown’s candidacy could hurt Charlie Baker

Analysts see more GOP money and resources going to New Hampshire’s US Senate battle

 

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Scott Brown’s entrance into New Hampshire’s US Senate race has created a political and media firestorm that some analysts believe will damage critical underpinnings of Charlie Baker’s gubernatorial candidacy in Massachusetts.

Many of the state and national Republican resources that would have been showered on Baker’s race for governor — in terms of fund-raising, strategists, and manpower — will now be directed at Brown’s challenge to Senator Jeanne Shaheen.

Just as problematic for Baker is the huge amount of money that will pour into the Boston media market, aimed at southern New Hampshire, to boost Brown’s candidacy in what the national GOP and the Democrats see as a key battleground over control of the Senate . . .

 

That translates into several potential problems for Baker. Start with independent expenditure groups and party committees scooping up big chunks of commercial inventory on Boston TV stations, leaving less desirable slots for Baker. Then factor in the inevitable smashmouth nature of the spots on both sides of the Granite State bakeoff; some of the mud slung at Brown will surely land on Baker as well.

So, to recap: Fewer dollars, worse ad placement, geld by association.

Then again, crosstown at the Boston Herald Two-Time Charlie’s prospects look much sunnier. Page One, lower half:

 

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This one is Joe Battenfeld’s story:

Super PACs Join Fray

May pour big $ into governor’s race

Two new Super PACs — one Democratic and one Republican — have jumped into the Massachusetts gubernatorial race, the latest sign that shadowy special DSC_1259.JPGinterest groups and power brokers will be pouring millions of dollars into the race for the Corner Office.

One of the Super PACs, called “Massachusetts Forward Together,” has a clear purpose — to “support the gubernatorial candidacy of Steve Grossman,” according to papers filed yesterday with the state’s campaign finance office. Grossman, the state treasurer, is a Democratic candidate for governor.

The other Super PAC, chaired by longtime Republican strategist Beth Lindstrom, appears to be an effort to support the candidacy of Republican gubernatorial candidate Charlie Baker. Neither of the organizations has reported spending any money yet.ADP_0008.JPG

Lindstrom’s PAC has the intentionally vague name of “Commonwealth Future” and its stated purpose is “to support candidates who create jobs, grow the Massachusetts economy and improve education,” according to its filing with the state.

 

So, to recap:

Maybe Charlie Baker’s in good shape.

Maybe not.

But only if you read both dailies.

 

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The Great Mentioner Comes to the Bay State

January 20, 2013

Now that Lt. Gov. Tim Murray (D-Pressed) has made his high-speed exit from the 2014 Massachusetts gubernatorial race, rampant speculation about who might emerge as alternatives has officially begun.

As is only fitting, the Great Mentioner stopped by both local dailies in Murray’s wake, with – wait for it ! – decidedly different results.

From Joe Battenfeld’s Saturday Boston Herald column:

Here’s one scenario: Joe Kennedy, the father. Sources say the former congressman may not have completely shaken off the political bug. One Democratic source said there has been increasing chatter about Kennedy mulling getting back into politics. But there is even more buzz that his son, newly elected U.S. Rep. Joseph P. Kennedy III, could be a gubernatorial prospect.

While the elder Kennedy and many other Democrats say he’s happy living in the private sector, he — or his son — could always come in as the Democratic shining knight to keep the GOP from taking over the Corner Office.

 

Another Herald piece adds this:

011813murraymg001As Murray bows out, race for gov is on

Lt. Gov. Tim Murray’s stunning decision yesterday to bow out of the 2014 gubernatorial race shook up the Bay State’s political landscape — likely nudging potential candidates for the Corner Office closer toward a run.

State Treasurer Steve Grossman has made his intentions about a likely run clear, but candidates such as Attorney General Martha Coakley and U.S. Rep. Michael E. Capuano could also decide to take the plunge.

“The race now is wide open,” said Democratic consultant Mary Anne Marsh. “Steve Grossman becomes the front-runner as of today, and you’ve got to think Martha Coakley is looking a lot more closely at it.”

 

Crosstown at the Boston Globe, there was this:

In addition to [State Treasurer Steve] Grossman, potential Democratic candidates include Donald M. Berwick, a former administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and State Senator Dan Wolf, the founder of Cape Air.

Murray’s exit could also clear the way for US Representative Michael E. Capuano, an urban liberal who would draw some of the same supporters as Murray. Capuano, a former Somerville mayor, said this week he will not run for Senate.

His spokeswoman, Alison Mills, said Capuano “has already received a great deal of encouragement and will consider other opportunities at the appropriate time.”

Charles D. Baker, a Republican who ran for governor in 2010, is considering another run as well.

 

Donald Berwick?

Dan Wolf?

But no Martha Coakley?

Seems like the Great Mentioner had an off-day at the Globe.

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Boston Herald: Scott Brown for Governor?

January 2, 2013

Up until now, conventional wisdom in the Bay State held that Scott Brown (R-Tickle Me Grover) had first GOP dibs on the U.S. Senate seat soon to be vacated by John Kerry (D-So Long, Suckers), while Good (Next) Time Charlie Baker had same on the 2014 Massachusetts gubernatorial race.

Not so fast.

From Joe Battenfeld’s piece in today’s Boston Herald:

Scott BrownDems fear Scott may run for gov

While Democrats frantically try to block Scott Brown from going back to the U.S. Senate, there are also increasing fears he could pose an even bigger threat as the next Massachusetts governor.

Republicans close to the departing U.S. senator said he’s itching to go back to Washington to replace John Kerry, but Democrats are buzzing more about a potential Brown gubernatorial campaign in 2014. It may be tempting for Brown to run in a special election against a vulnerable Rep. Edward J. Markey, but he should reject the easy play and go for the job that really matters — running the state of Massachusetts.

“In the last week, there has been more speculation (about a Brown gubernatorial campaign),” one top Democratic strategist said. “He’d have a much better shot at (governor).”

 

Battenfeld says in a Senate race Democrats “will throw millions of dollars against him and use the same strategy they used last year for U.S. Sen.-elect Elizabeth Warren, trying to tie him to national Republicans.” The gubernatorial race would be an easier one to win.

[I]f you were Scott Brown, who would you rather run against, Ed Markey and the entire Democratic Party, or state Treasurer Steve Grossman or Attorney General Martha Coakley?

 

Good question.

One last question: What does Charlie Baker think?

Battenfeld doesn’t say.

UPDATE: Gotta add today’s overcaffeinated Page One (via the Newseum’s Today’s Front Pages):

MA_BH

 

Love that feisty local tabloid.

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