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Sep 19, 2006 11:45 pm US/Eastern
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Patrick Wins Democratic Primary For Governor
BOSTON (CBS4) ―
Deval Patrick, making not only his first run for elective office but also a bid to become the state's first black governor, beat fellow Democrats Chris Gabrieli and Tom Reilly in Tuesday's gubernatorial primary.
With 83 percent of the precincts reporting, Patrick had 50 percent, or 392,337 votes. Gabrieli has 28 percent, or 218,097 votes, while Reilly trailed the pack with 23 percent, or 179,172 votes.
Patrick, 50, will be teamed up with Worcester Mayor Tim Murray, who won a three-way primary for the No. 2 spot as the party's nominee for lieutenant governor. They'll compete in the general election against Lt. Gov. Kerry Healey, the Republican nominee, as well as independent candidate Christy Mihos and Grace Ross of the Green-Rainbow Party. The last Democrat to hold the governor's office was Michael S. Dukakis, whose term ended in 1991.
"From the very beginning and on every single day of this campaign ... I asked you to see this not as my campaign but as yours ... not just my chance to be governor but our chance to reclaim our civic and political future," Patrick told supporters shortly after 11 p.m.
Reilly told his supporters that "we gave it everything we had. It just didn't work out for us." Reilly congratulated Patrick over the phone and told him that he will support him during his race for governor. "It is time to end 16 straight years of Republican governors and I will help him do that."
Gabrieli, who addressed supporters moments later, used his concession speech to lash out at Healey for a television ad she began running last week that suggested he was supporting stem cell research in Massachusetts to boost his personal investments.
He labeled those ads "cynical and dishonest attack ads" and added: "I believe and I know you believe the people of Massachusetts deserve better than this from anybody who wants to be their governor."
Healey, who is vying to become the first woman elected governor of Massachusetts, was unopposed in the primary. She told her supporters: "Beginning tonight, the choice facing voters in November finally comes into focus. This election will bring change to Massachusetts -- but what kind of change? We will have an option: Will we have two-party democracy and balance on Beacon Hill or go back to a time when the people's business was done behind closed doors."
She added: "Deval Patrick's prescription of higher taxes, more spending and weaker criminal justice laws are just the type of change we can't afford to make and a risk we cannot take."
The Democratic candidates for governor began their days early on Tuesday -- starting off at their respective polling stations and continuing on to areas across the state to get their supporters out and vote. With only hours left, Deval Patrick, Chris Gabrieli and Tom Reilly and hoping to pull in as many voters before the polls close later tonight.
Deval Patrick started his day at the voting booth having already beat the odds as a virtual unknown a year ago. "No matter how the vote turns out we've won a point," said Patrick.
He was doing his part for the economy at a Copley Square farmer's market Tuesday afternoon. Poll numbers suggest he's the candidate to beat, and first impressions impressed some still undecided voters here.
Chris Gabrieli came to vote with an entourage of family -- his wife Hillary and four of their five kids.
The venture capitalist-turned-non-profit chair has pumped more than $8 million of his own money into his campaign -- breaking a record set by Gov. Romney four years ago.
Gabrieli, who trails Deval Patrick in pre-election polls, hopes for high turnout among independent voters.
Fire fighters and other union members were up early to cheer Tom Reilly as he cast his vote in his home town of Watertown.
Reilly arrived at Hibernian Hall with his wife and one of his three daughters just after 7:00 a.m. Reilly took no time in making his selection and then joked with reporters, saying "Guess who I voted for?"
Reilly is not concerned about low voter turn out. "We expect a moderate turnout. This is going to be decided by who gets their vote out," said Reilly. "We are going to surprise some people."
Reilly is counting on traditional Democrats to support him. He will be looking for support from unions, the elderly and voters in the cities.
Even though the race is close and the weather is nice, voter turnout was expected to be low on Tuesday.
CBS4's Kasey Kauffman spoke with some of those who decided to skip the polls. "I couldn't get out of work, that's why," said one woman who did not get out and vote.
"I didn't even know that we were supposed to vote today," said another person. "Maybe we just haven't gotten the word. I had no idea. I've been doing my thing, just going to work, like every other day."
Some people knew Tuesday was Primary day, but decided not to vote because of the candidates themselves. "I don't feel any great competency in any of the candidates," said one man. "No faith or level of confidence – background, experience, a lot of business people thinking they could be politicians – no experience in government."
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