Deval Patrick's First Big Campaign Swing

Deval Patrick has crafted a credible campaign for governor of Massachusetts from nothing in six months. He has steadily built momentum, rather than pandering to the Conventional Wisdom.

Patrick has been systematically introducing himself to the electorate and to party activists, and he has been received with warmth and enthusiasm. What's more, he has started to receive public endorsements from national and state political figures, most recently, state Representatives David Sullivan of Fall River and Michael Rodrugues of Westport, according to an article in the Fall River Herald News.

This week marks the official kick off of Patrick's campaign for governor. His very public round of campaign and media appearances begins, (according to the preliminary schedule sent to reporters and bloggers) in Pittsfield on Sunday; Pittsfield, Holyoke and Springfield on Monday; Randolph and Brockton on Tuesday; Lowell and Lawrence on Wednesday; Fall River on Thursday.

After six months energizing grassroots support, strong fundraising, and meeting with voters concerned about health care, education and jobs," the campaign declared in a press release, "Deval Patrick will tour the Commonwealth... to officially announce his candidacy for governor.

Over the past several weeks, Patrick has released key parts of his Moving Massachusetts Forward plan, including health care, education, and economic growth policies for the state. These issues releases follow months of intense grassroots work, which has brought to the campaign over 2,000 active volunteers, who are using a state-of-the-art website designed to meet the needs of the volunteer base.

Starting October 16th, Patrick is traveling across the state visiting the sites and people that relate to the heart of his Moving Massachusetts Forward plan. His stops will include a tour of the former GE plant that now houses a business park in Pittsfield, a conversation with students at American International College in Springfield, and a tour of the women’s programs at the YWCA of Greater Lawrence. At each of these events, Patrick will talk about his reasons for running and about his Moving Massachusetts Forward plan.

As I wrote recently, it's too early to conclude very much from the polls, activities, and fundraising of the candidates. We have eleven months to go -- a political eon -- before any votes are actually counted. But to those paying attention to the development of the Deval Patrick campaign -- and the candidate -- I think this week will be a bench mark.