Patrick’s the target in final debate: Reilly, Gabrieli team up in bid to catch front-runner
The three Democratic gubernatorial candidates showcased their résumés and took turns shifting alliances as they attacked each other’s campaign promises, with Christopher Gabrieli and Atty. Gen. Thomas Reilly often teaming up against poll favorite Deval Patrick.
Although the candidates’ tones were much more subdued than in previous debates, the three managed to deliver sharp blows on well-worn campaign issues such as income tax rollbacks and charter school caps.
Patrick criticized the attorney general’s support of an income tax cut as a means to help struggling Massachusetts families, considering, he said, that Reilly failed to protect public money on the costly Big Dig project.
‘‘Some wonder (why) people say, ‘give me my money back,’’’ Patrick said sarcastically.
Reilly was quick to respond. Several times during the debate, he reminded Patrick that Massachusetts residents voted in favor of an income tax rollback, citing $1 billion waiting in state coffers for public distribution.
‘‘No one has the right to ignore the will of voters,’’ Reilly said.
Gabrieli also attacked Patrick’s opposition to tax cuts. He claimed the former civil rights lawyer lacked specifics for his ‘‘one day maybe’’ plan. If elected governor, the venture capitalist said his tax rollback plan would be based on income growth.
But Patrick fought back with a phrase he often directed toward Gabrieli throughout the night.
‘‘You love the world of theory, Chris, and I live in the real world,’’ Patrick said. ‘‘Revenue growth comes from capital gains. Regular folks’ wages are not going up ...we need to invest in ourselves to get that growth.’’
Patrick contended that such tax cuts would only harm communities dependent on state aid.
Jon Keller, political analyst for WBZ-TV, moderated the debate, which was held at the station.
It was the last in a series of three debates running up to Tuesday’s primary. It came the day after a State House News poll gave Patrick 36 percent of the vote to Gabrieli’s 26 percent and Reilly’s 19 percent.
The Democratic winner will face Lt. Gov. Kerry Healey, the Republican gubernatorial nominee has pledged to cut taxes.
But while taxes were a contentious topic at last night’s debate, the candidates also let loose over the charter school cap.
Reilly and Gabrieli support striking the cap on charter school admissions and continued to tag-team against Patrick on the issue.
Patrick defended his position. ‘‘We have funding that creates unnecessary tensions between families in charter and public schools,’’ said the former South Chicago resident.
Reilly retorted: ‘‘It’s a matter of giving parents choice.’’
At one point Keller chided the candidates to speak one at a time.
Despite their differences, the candidates did find common ground.
All oppose setting quotas for women and people of color to promote diversity in the work place. If they were to select their future administrations, the three Democrats said they would choose the best people for the job - not merely those who worked in their gubernatorial campaigns.
Student tracking was opposed by all candidates, yet no one with more zeal than the two-term attorney general.
‘‘I was told I wasn’t good enough to go to college,’’ Reilly said.
He said he was placed in the fourth track while in school, well beyond the hopes of secondary education. Yet Reilly graduated from American International College in 1964 and Boston College Law School in 1970.
Patrick and Gabrieli also addressed the need to support small businesses in Massachusetts. The Milton Democrat, in a possible attempt to reach out to a ‘‘greener’’ voting block, emphasized the importance of developing alternative and renewable energy in Massachusetts.
In a surprising moment, Gabrieli - who towers over his rivals at 6-foot-4 - confessed he had looked at notes Patrick had made while standing next to him. He then asked why Patrick did not ask a question he had jotted down. Gabrieli would not reveal what the question was, and Patrick ignored him.
At another point, Patrick complained his rivals were unfairly attacking him, prompting Reilly to say, ‘‘What do you think is going to happen when the Republicans get a shot at you? This is tame; we’re being really nice.’’
Gabrieli chimed in: ‘‘I don’t think people who live in glass mansions should throw stones.’’
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Copyright 2006 The Patriot Ledger