"The Democratic party isn't going to win bytaking liberal views...The Democratic party is notgoing to win [the election] by showing up,"Cafasso said.
Cafasso also stressed that Finneran neverassociated Harshbarger with the "loony left."
However, Finneran's comments also might beindicative that Harshbarger's zealousness rubs theparty faithful the wrong way.
"Finneran wanted to send a message," saidKoocher, the Cambridge political analyst. "It's anendorsement that says you've screwed some of yourfriends, prosecuted your allies, and sometimes youtake your friends for granted."
Koocher explained that Speakers of the Househave historically been more centrist than thelegislature, balancing out the House's radicalelements. Finneran has not altered from the mold,especially in his conservative financial policies.
"Finneran has provided the adult supervisionwhen the legislation has loomed left," Koochersaid.
However, the internal party politics do notseem to be resonating with average voters, evenwith the crucial swing voter block.
"I'm still debating who to vote for. It seemsreal close to me. [Finneran's endorsement] doesn'taffect me," said John Taylor, a Central Squareresident.
Finneran's comments also might have beenaffected by poll results showing that swingindependent voters are leaning towards Republicansin state races.
The poll of 400 likely voters conducted earlylast week by The Boston Globe and WBZ-TV showedthat state races for attorney general, treasurerand secretary of state are closer than expectedbecause of the Republican leanings of independentvoters.
As the campaign approached its final weeks,Cellucci inaugurated an ad campaign attackingHarshbarger as too inexperienced for the job.
Cellucci supporters were adamant that the adcampaign illuminated key differences between thecandidates.
"He's not saying your mother wears combatboots. He's pointing out philosophicaldifferences," said Cellucci campaign worker MarkRotondo.
The Harshbarger campaign was quick to accuseCellucci's advertising campaign of deception andeven lies.
"He's distorted the issues...He's lied aboutScott's stand on financial matters," Cafasso said.
Harshbarger's campaign feels the ads areindicative of the weakness of Cellucci's ownrecord.
"He does nothing except coast on the economicpower [of Massachusetts.]...What you're seeing isan incumbent who's afraid to run on his record,"Cafasso said.
Material from the Associated Press was usedin this article.