Those who meet with Clinton are feeling the weight of public approbation, especially in areas crucial for Democrats to win in the South. Florida Lieutenant Governor and gubernatorial candidate Buddy Mackay hosted Clinton at a $1000-a-plate fundraiser. His poll numbers, already far behind his rival, promptly dropped.
But the Hub is--and will be--solidly progressive. Both candidates for the Sixth and Eighth districts are shoo-ins in the November general elections. According to Grossman, last night's fundraiser netted more than $1 million for party coffers, a figure that exceeded his expectation.
Also attending last night's event were the glitterati of the state Democratic party: Senator John F. Kerry, Boston mayor Thomas M. Menino, and Sen. Edward P. Kennedy '54-'56, whose introduction of Al Gore '69 brought a moment of unintended levity to the event.
The senator, known at times for his mangling malapropisms, compared Gore to home run champions "Mike McGwire and Sammy Soser."
Remarked a Gore staffer: "You can't win 'em all."
Gore's response: "Senator Kennedy is obviously a Red Sox fan.