The State's First Lawyer

Although they say that he has a strong moral foundation, Harshbarger's colleagues are quick to add that he is a savvy politician.

Calling Harshbarger's leadership style "cautious," former State Rep. and Democratic candidate for governor Mark Roosevelt '78 says that the attorney general's ideals are not always carved in stone.

"On issues, he's not a driven ideologue," Roosevelt says.

Nonetheless, the attorney general has emerged as a state and national leader on several issues.

Harshbarger is gaining national publicity for his on-going legal battle with tobacco firms.

Massachusetts recently filed suit against major tobacco corporations in an effort to reclaim more than $1 billion that the state has spent on health care for ill smokers.

As president of the National Association of Attornies General, Harshbarger is trying to coordinate the efforts of several states that are filing similar suits.

Harshbarger is also becoming known for his opposition to gambling.

Since passage of the 1988 Federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, tribes have had the right to operate casinos on their land.

Many of the Bay State's smaller communities, traditionally burdened by weaker local economies, view gaming as a panacea.

The attorney general says that his position on gambling is not a moral decision but a matter of what is best for the economy in these cities.

"To have it, that's one thing, but don't sell it as a source of economic growth," Harshbarger says.

As attorney general, Harshbarger says that he has a very productive relationship with current Republican governor William F. Weld '66.

The attorney general says that as governor he would maintain the financial restraint that the Weld administration has made its signature.