Robert Reich On Supporting Deval Patrick

Deval Patrick's campaign for the Democratic nomination for Governor of Massachusetts is picking up steam. Following up on his Labor Day op-ed in The Boston Globe in which he and fellow former U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexis Herman endorsed Patrick as the choice for working people, Robert Reich has followed up with a letter to supporters.

Reich came in a strong second in the Democratic primary for governor last time -- after waging an energetic progressive reform challenge to the party establishment. Reich's campaign activiated thousands of people who had previously felt alienated from electoral politics. Reich's campaign preceded by two years the similar reform movement that arose out of the Howard Dean campaign for president. The organizational outgrowth of the Reich campaign is Progressive Democrats of Massachusetts, (to which a lot of Dean supporters have joined) which is nearing a formal endorsement of Patrick, following the publication of a detailed endorsement rationale.

Here is is part of Reich's letter.

On September 19, 2006, the Massachusetts Democratic primary for Governor will be held and the winner that day could play a major role in the direction of this state.

After 15 years of Republican rule in the Governor's office, we can elect not just a Democrat, but a Democrat who will make us proud--my friend Deval Patrick.

Deval could have led a private, comfortable life, but he chose a more difficult and rewarding path. He chose to run for public office and motivate others to get involved or re-involved in politics. Judging from the 1,850 volunteers who have already signed up, Deval is having a substantial impact. He will have active operations in every community in the state by next summer.

But there's more. Deval is attempting to run a unique campaign, one in which --

-- he appeals to our better nature, not our worst
-- he supports Democratic values of fair play, equality and opportunity
-- he has the listening skills and imagination to find bold, creative answers to problems of unemployment, inadequate education and costly health care
-- he is the rare Democratic candidate who knows what makes businesses tick, and whose corporate experience has prepared him to create and keep good jobs in Massachusetts
-- he reminds us of the forgotten and vulnerable in our society, even if it makes us uncomfortable
-- he tells us the truth, not what he thinks we want to hear
-- he is inspiring and exciting and reminds us of the type of leaders we can be proud of
-- he brings to the Governor's job a unique blend of leadership in the public, private, non-profit and community sectors.

Read the rest of Bob Reich's personal endorsement letter to supporters.