Mayor Menino to endorse Elizabeth Warren at Roslindale Square rally on Friday

[TroyD]

09/20/2012 11:25 AM

Mayor Thomas M. Menino is expected to endorse Democrat Elizabeth Warren on Friday in her bid to unseat Republican US Senator Scott Brown, according to two people with knowledge of the plan.

Menino will appear with Warren Friday at a 4 p.m. rally in Adams Park in Roslindale Square, according to the two people, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they had not been authorized to discuss the plan.

The news was first reported Thursday morning on the website of the Dorchester Reporter. The endorsement will end months of speculation about Menino’s role in a race that could tip the balance of power in the US Senate.

Menino may be a Democrat, but he has a history of playing hard to get with other Democrats running for statewide office. Until word leaked of Friday’s endorsement, some political pundits have interpreted Menino’s silence in the race as tacit support for Brown.

Menino and Brown have developed a close relationship, often appearing together at events in Boston. Menino has described Brown as a gifted retail politician who excels at relating to everyday people on the campaign trail. In 2011 Menino went so far as declaring Brown unbeatable. But that was before Warren, a favorite of the national Democratic Party, entered the race.

More here:

http://www.boston.com/politicalintelligence/2012/09/20/mayor-menino-endorse-elizabeth-warren-senate-race-roslindale-square-rally-friday/FpVmvfUf9Uk3dNxYJO7u3O/story.html

[Fozzledick]

1. This is actually a major advantage over Martha Coakley's campaign.

One big problem that Martha Coakley had running against Scott Brown last time was that she didn't have the support of the old-school Boston political machine run by Menino. Their GOTV resources could make a major difference in voter turnout in Boston.