Goldberg steams ahead
Although the lieutenant governor's race is more than a
year away, one Brookline resident has already created an early buzz on
the political scene.
Deborah Goldberg outgrew her home office space, moved into a new campaign
headquarters in downtown Boston and posted an official campaign Web site
last week.
In the few months since the former selectman chairwoman and Stop &
Shop heiress began jockeying for the state office, she has outpaced the
competition in fund raising and endorsements.
As of last week, when Goldberg began a busy round of visits to selectmen,
mayors and residents in Medford, Pittsfield and Plymouth, she has about
$110,000 on hand and has raised more than $200,000 since March.
Goldberg, who has built up a camp of 10 staff and interns, estimates she
spends 16 hours a day campaigning with her message of bringing local "bread-and-butter"
issues, such as education, to the State House. On a few occasions she
says she's been so focused on the race that she's even forgotten to eat.
But the rigorous campaign trail seems to agree with Goldberg, who remains
chipper when she passionately talks about her political philosophies.
"I'm coming from a local level, and I'm out to represent the voice
of towns and cities," said Goldberg.
So far, the only other two candidates who have expressed interest in the
Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor are Harwich resident Andrea
Silbert, co-founder of the Center for Women and Enterprise, and Sam Kelley,
a Cohasset psychiatrist and medical director for the Massachusetts Society
for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. Neither has ever held public
office.
By the end of June, Silbert has raised about $108,000 and reported more
than $80,000 cash on hand, according to reports filed with the state Office
of Campaign and Political Finance. Kelley has raised about $41,500 and
currently holds about $10,000 in his political war chest.
Goldberg has also picked up myriad endorsements, including Congressman
Barney Frank and state Reps. Frank Smizik and Marie St. Fleur.
Although the Boston Phoenix named Goldberg the candidate to beat in the
early stages of campaigning, election races are often unpredictable and
any number of factors could affect her run, including a larger field of
competition.
Jane Lane, spokesperson for the Massachusetts Democratic Party, said there
could be a large-scale political shuffle in the state if Gov. Mitt Romney
decides to not to run for re-election and instead decides to pursue the
presidential office in 2008.
If Romney decided not to run, other gubernatorial candidates, such as
Lt. Gov. Kerry Healey, could emerge, which could mean new candidates for
both parties in the lieutenant governor's race.
Lane said there would probably be a clearer picture of the 2006 political
field in the fall.
Steve Grossman, a Goldberg supporter and former chairman of the Democratic
National Committee, said one of Goldberg's upcoming challenges will be
to generate enough public interest in the midst of other high-profile
races.
"There's not a lot of oxygen left in the room for the lieutenant
governor candidates," said Grossman, who ran for governor in 2002.
Goldberg will also have to maintain her current fund-raising momentum
to buy television ads in the final stages of the campaign and make herself
into a household name, he said.
But Goldberg is out to a great start, and there is still time before next
fall, said Grossman.
Said Grossman, "Most people are enjoying the summer. They're out
barbecuing in the 90-degree weather and they're not thinking about the
lieutenant governor race."
Erin Smith can be reached at esmith@cnc.com
