One issue the Republicans were counting on never materialized--the state sales tax. Originally proposed by the Governor last spring, it was defeated by both parties in the legislature. During the campaign, Gibbons has said that he too would sign such a bill if it came to him. By failing to exploit this issue, many observers feel, Gibbons has lost a big opportunity.
Besides these issues, Furcolo has other advantages working for him. Of Italian and Irish extraction, the Yale-educated ('33) Governor with a large family has a common-man appeal which Gibbons has not had time to build up. He amassed the largest vote ever given to a Democratic gubernatorial candidate in the last primary and defeated a popular Lieutenant Governor in a year in which Eisenhower was sweeping the state. Gibbons is running hard and has made gains--notably in the western part of the state--but at this stage of the game it doesn't look as if he has the horses to win in a Democratic year.
Because of the undeniable popularity of Kennedy, Republicans were not too eager to run against him. The nod finally went to Vincent J. Celeste, an East Boston lawyer and one-time aid to former Governor Christian Herter. He has never held an elective office and lists as his experience the fact that he ran for Congress (against Kennedy) in 1950 and was an alternate delegate to the 1956 Republican national Convention.
Celeste is trying to arouse the voters on the issues of labor racketeering and civil rights. "I abhor elected officials who give lip service to law and order and then conspire with the labor barons to enhance their political futures," he told a Christian Science Monitor reporter recently.
Kenedy is playing the role of the statesman. He never mentions his opponent's name, nor does he discuss the Sherman Adams case. The Senator sticks to a discussion of what he has done in the past and what he plans to do in the future regarding state issues. He talks about civil rights, labor benefits, and protection of Massachusetts industry.
Celeste voices optimism about his chances but even Republicans admit that he has no hope of unseating the fair-haired boy.
The only real trouble the Democrats face this fall is in the race for Attorney General. Here deep wounds caused by a convention and primary fight, as well as the personal appeal of the Republican candidate, have given the Democrats real cause for concern.
Before the convention last June, Endicott (Chub) Peabody seemed to have the edge over Edward J. McCormack, Jr., nephew of the Democratic Congressional majority leader. When the party convened, however, a fierce battle ensued and police had to be called in to prevent a riot. Amid charges of vote buying and fraud, McCormack won the nomination. Peabody immediately announced he would contest the decision in the primary.
The primary fight was fierce and bitter. Although McCormack won by a comfortable margin, Peabody showed suprising strength. He has since endorsed McCormack, but has done almost no campigning for him.
Meanwhile, the Republican nomination went to Chris Herter, Jr., a personable figure and able campaigner. As the Democrats fought among themselves, Herter built himself up in the public image as a candidate untainted by corruption and politics. Recently he has been using taped recordings of Peabody's convention speeches denouncing McCormack, with Democrats in the background yelling "fraud."
McCormack has had governmental experience as President of the Boston City Council, but his name is not as familiar around the state as Herter's. He has denied the charge of bossism, and tried to patch up the party rift.
Despite this, however, large group of Peabody supporters are working actively for Herter. His campaign headquarters predicts a 75,000 vote victory. Democrats are confident, but they concede that if any Republican has a chance of winning this year, Herter is the man.
This is a report from a small CRIMSON team that surveyed political sentiment in the pivotal state of Massachusetts. Team member was Mark H. Alcott, who journeyed hither and thither.