Poll: Reilly loses ground
BOSTON -- In one of the first polls since last week's Democratic gubernatorial debate, Tom Reilly appears to have fallen further behind fellow candidates Deval Patrick and Chris Gabrieli, according to figures compiled by the State House News Service.
In a poll released yesterday of 400 Massachusetts residents, 201 of whom said they will likely vote in the primary, only 19 percent said they support Reilly.
Back in March, Reilly was considered the Democratic Party's front-runner, though he has continued to sink in popularity since. During a debate Thursday, Reilly came out swinging at both Patrick and Gabrieli.
But latest poll numbers, which show Patrick rising to 36 percent and Gabrieli climbing to 26 percent, suggest Reilly's strategy.
Cahill backs Patrick
Also yesterday, state Treasurer Tim Cahill endorsed Patrick, citing Patrick's opposition to an income-tax rollback.
"Deval Patrick's position on taxes is the most fiscally responsible and honest one given where state finances are right now," Cahill said in a statement released by the Patrick campaign. Cahill said a rollback "would mean a cut in local aid and an increase in property taxes."
Cahill was elected treasurer in 2002 and is running for re-election. He is unopposed in the Democratic primary, and faces no Republican challenger in the November election.