Deval Patrick, Bill Clinton

HERE COMES BUBBA

For Struggling Patrick Campaign, Clinton Brings Help







Sure, we know Bill Clinton is great for liberal fundraising, but can he deliver votes for Democrat gubernatorial candidate Deval Patrick?

Especially given Clinton's lack of Bay State ties, it's truly unknown whether a Clinton visit to Massachusetts yesterday will succeed in propping up his now- troubled campaign.

Bubba can say what he likes, but it's clear that voters are increasingly alarmed as they learn of Patrick's extreme positions regarding the rights of prisoners, to the point of obsessing over the quality of tuna sandwiches and other minute aspects of life behind bars.

Comparing Kerry Healey to Newt Gingrich really isn't going to undo the damage to his campaign caused by Patrick's bizarre crusade on behalf of rapists, murderers and thugs.

From today's Boston Herald:

“(Republicans say), ‘You still gotta vote for us because if you vote for the Democrats, they’ll tax you into the poor house, and on the way to the poor house you’ll meet a terrorist on every street corner,’ ” he said. “And that is one mangy old dog - they’ve been saying that now for a long time.”

On Thursday, another Democratic star - U.S. Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois - will hit the Massachusetts trail for Patrick.

Healey, who has ripped Patrick in TV ads as a big spender who is soft on crime, hinted yesterday that she will keep up the air war as polls show the race tightening, a tactic Clinton called the work of a desperate candidate.

“When they start throwing the kind of stuff at you that they’ve been throwing at (Patrick) - they don’t do that unless they think they’re going to get a big whuppin’ later on,” the ex-president said to thunderous applause at the Westin Copley Place.

Clinton, whose calm, conversational style of speaking contrasted sharply with boisterous remarks by Sens. John F. Kerry, Edward M. Kennedy and Patrick himself last night, said Healey’s campaign reminded him of his own battles with Republicans, who he said admitted to playing dirty.

“I heard about some of these things they’re saying about Deval, and it reminded me of a conversation I once had with Newt Gingrich,” Clinton said, drawing laughter from the crowd.

Photo: Tim Correia, Boston Herald

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