Reilly shouldn't get free ride from Dems

12 January 2005

Good news, Tom Reilly. The state GOP may have registered a bunch of Web sites - such as ReillyForGovernor.com - that you might otherwise have used for the 2006 campaign. No problem. There are still many available. As of yesterday, for example, you could pick up GovernorReilly.com or even BeatMitt.com for just $35 each.

And even better news. CapuanoForGovernor.com? Available. GabrieliForGovernor.com? Available also. Same goes for Web sites for such oft-mentioned candidates as Sen. Mark Montigny, Secretary of State Bill Galvin and even Joe "For Oil" Kennedy.

(And, of course, all bets are off should Mitt Romney change his mind and not run for re-election).

This alone probably ranks as one of the most remarkable political stories: A full year before candidates even need to declare their intentions - 20 months before the Democratic primary - no one is standing in Tom Reilly's way.

That claim comes with a few caveats, of course. Chris Gabrieli, the nominee for lieutenant governor last time around, leans against putting his name in. But Gabrieli, a plutocrat who self-funds his races, can defer a decision until the last minute.

Kennedy, meanwhile, is a cipher. The thinking is that if he gets back into public life at all, he returns as Uncle Ted's successor. Yet there are many within the party who dislike Reilly and doubtless will continue to whisper sweet nothings in Kennedy's ear.

And then there are various state senators, reps, lower-level statewide office holders and failed candidates of the past, all of whom might pop up, hoping lightning strikes.

Still, Reilly - attorney general for the last six years - has got to be feeling good. With $2 million banked and potential candidates falling, odds are he's the nominee.

The question is: Why?

Yesterday marked a coming-out party of sorts for Reilly. Before the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, he began what many saw as his campaign's first step.

The verdict? Mike Capuano might want to rethink his decision not to run.

As speeches go, it was a flop. The be-suited crowd sat largely silent as the AG delivered a dirge-like treatise about life, politics and what is wrong with Massachusetts. Meandering and without punch, it proved two things: One, Reilly will never make it as a comedian and, two, he needs a good speechwriter.

OK, you may think, lots of people lack charisma. That's a real issue, however. Governors and AGs are the political equivalents of CEOs and corporate counsels. No one expects the lawyers to be live wires. But the CEO is the face guy, the one responsible for leading, inspiring, persuading.

Even worse: The substance of Reilly's speech was weak. His critique of Romney comes down to a claim that the governor is "dabbling" - unfocused and unwilling to do the tough stuff. Yet I still have no idea what Reilly would do differently. So far, Reilly's positions have been so similar to Romney's - opposed to Cape Wind, against gay marriage, anti-Billy Bulger - that many dub him Romney-lite. When asked about the great issues of the day - transit, education, housing - Reilly had no answers but rather said that what the state needed was a "plan." Terrific. The Soviet Union had lots of plans and look where that got 'em.

This does not make for compelling stuff. So why the free ride for Reilly? It may be a reflection of Democratic resignation. As one party insider argues, "the default position of voters these days is small government and lower taxes." That works to Romney's benefit.

Reilly, plainly, disagrees. He has much in his favor; he's smart, focused on the public good, independent and of unquestioned integrity. Those are qualities that make for a good attorney general. More is needed, however, if Reilly is to become governor.