Cellucci's good standing opens door to cozy hotel assignment for the GOP
It's tough to be a Republican from Massachusetts, Kennedyland, and that has long been clear at convention time, when hotel assignments are a sure sign of status. In San Diego four years ago, the delegation stayed at the Humphrey's Half-Moon Inn and Suites, a motel far from the convention site, with a tropical theme and a mangled goldfish in the lobby. In Philadelphia, the delegates are staying at the swank Wyndham Hotel - the same as George W. Bush.
It's all about whom you know. Four years ago, the delegation's top dog was Governor William F. Weld, who irked the GOP establishment by pushing for a pro-choice platform. Weld's successor, Paul Cellucci, by contrast, climbed on the Bush bandwagon early - starting with the senior Bush's presidential bid in 1979 - and bonded with George W. Bush on a 1998 trip to Israel. He has helped Massachusetts raise $3.8 million for the campaign, will represent Bush on talk shows, and will co-host a lavish street party dubbed ''Carnivale Italiano: A Republican Salute to Italian Americans.''
In D.C., the 'Ted Sox' pick up a win
The US Senate broke for its August recess Friday, but before Senators Edward M. Kennedy and John F. Kerry left town, they had one more piece of unfinished business: their annual softball game. Kennedy's ''Ted Sox'' squared off against Kerry's ''Mass Hysteria'' on the Mall directly in front of the Capitol. When the dust settled, the senior senator's staff reigned supreme, winning 12-8. Both Kerry and Kennedy took their turns at bat, although both exercised their senatorial prerogative to use pinch runners. Kennedy ended up going 1-for-1, while Kerry went 1-for-2 at the plate after being robbed his first time up when a Kennedy shortstop snared his sharp hit.
Grossman backs gubernatorial plans with experienced campaign workers
In the past few weeks, Steve Grossman, the former Democratic National Committee chairman and former state chairman, has demonstrated just how serious he is about running for governor of Massachusetts. With the election still more than two years away, Grossman, the heir to an envelope company fortune who uses his financial assets to advance Democratic causes, has put out some serious cash to assemble an experienced staff of veteran campaign workers:
Barbara Opacki, a longtime Democratic activist who worked on the Michael S. Dukakis 1988 presidential campaign and numerous statewide races, is putting together Grossman's field operation and campaign organization.
Colleen McGee, the daughter of former House speaker Thomas McGee, is serving as the full-time finance director. She is a former finance director for the state party and is an experienced political fund-raiser. She has a staff of three working with her.
Kristin Schneeman has just signed on as Grossman's full-time public policy adviser. She is an Emmy-winning documentary film maker who worked for several years on Vice President Al Gore's staff as a domestic policy adviser.
Adam Hurtubise, a veteran of several Democratic congressional campaigns, is working part time as Grossman's public relations consultant.
Reports show Moakley is in the money
US Representative J. Joseph Moakley, the dean of the Massachusetts delegation, may be irked that Cellucci has fielded Republican Janet Jeghelian against him this year, but he can't be too upset after comparing the finance reports. Moakley had $504,301 in cash on hand as of July 1, while Jeghelian is holding $4,485 in her account.
Former attorney general Shannon appears ripe for political comeback
Ten years ago, when attorney general James Shannon lost a bitter struggle to hold his office against a tough challenge from Scott Harshbarger, then the Middlesex district attorney, he retreated into the private sector, his once rising political star seemingly dimmed. But, Shannon, considered a political boy wonder in 1978 when he won a seat in Congress from the Fifth District at the age of 26, is ready to get back into the action, Democratic Party sources say.
Those sources say chairing Bill Bradley's presidential campaign in Massachusetts reconnected Shannon with his political instincts. In fact, he will lead the Bradley delegation to the national convention in Los Angeles. It's not clear what course Shannon might take - it won't be for governor or attorney general again, those sources say. But among those urging him on is Michael Goldman, a top media adviser to Harshbarger in the 1990 race. ''It didn't surprise me when Bradley people asked me if I thought Jim should think about restarting his political career,'' Goldman said. ''We are all impressed with his maturity and political savvy.''
Open mouth, insert foot department
Rivalries large and small are kindled in the politics of City Hall, and disgruntled denizens often take their complaints to the media. But they usually don't do it while their enemies are within earshot. Inflamed after the ground breaking of a Boston Redevelopment Authority-sponsored renovation of City Hall Plaza last week, longtime activist Shirley Kressel came to the Globe offices to spill invectives about the project. Unknown to Kressel, one object of her ire, BRA spokeswoman Susan Elsbree, was less than 10 feet away, speaking to reporters about another BRA matter. Kressel didn't hold anything back in her long list of accusations toward the BRA or in the volume of her voice. She was so involved that she apparently didn't notice when the chagrined Elsbree made her escape, squeezing by Kressel in order to get out the door. ''I wish I had that kind of concentration,'' Elsbree later quipped.
Globe Staffers Glen Johnson, Joanna Weiss, Frank Phillips, and Steven Wilmsen contributed to this report.
