Wild card looms in governor's race

Wealthy businessman Christopher Gabrieli, rejected as a lieutenant governor running mate by Attorney General Thomas F. Reilly, has told Democratic Party officials that he is receptive to jumping into the race for governor and has given the green light to his supporters to marshal support for him at the party's June convention.

At least three-dozen Democratic activists, with Gabrieli's blessing, have for several days been seeking signatures on a petition that would allow Gabrieli's name to be put before the June 4 convention as a gubernatorial candidate, according to two organizers of the signature drive.

Gabrieli needs 500 delegates to sign the petition to be considered at the convention. The petition is due in late April. If he clears that hurdle, the next step is to win support of 15 percent of the delegates at the convention needed to qualify for the September ballot. Gabrieli has told supporters he would probably take a poll to see if he can be a viable candidate.

''We think Chris would be a compelling candidate," said Felda Hardymon, a Harvard Business School professor and former business partner of Gabrieli's. ''We have not convinced Chris, but we are trying to get the 500 signatures and to understand whether this makes sense for Chris today."

Gabrieli declined to comment yesterday on the petition activity. But he did confirm that people are working to get signatures on his behalf and that he would listen to those who want him to join the race. The only declared Democratic candidates are Reilly and Deval L. Patrick, a former chief federal civil rights enforcer and business executive.

In late January, Reilly was on the verge of asking Gabrieli to join him on a ticket. But the attorney general abruptly turned to state Representative Marie St. Fleur, who was then forced to withdraw after the Globe revealed she had failed to meet federal tax obligations and is behind in paying off $40,000 in student loans.

Gabrieli's entrance into the Democratic race would shake up what many observers thought had settled into a two-person contest. Reilly, who had been the early front-runner, is struggling to regain his footing, while Patrick is drawing strong support from grass-roots party activists. Patrick swept a strong majority of the delegates at caucuses on Feb. 4.

''This would stir the pot," said former state senator Warren Tolman, the 1998 lieutenant governor nominee. ''The would-be front runner is sinking; the out-of-nowhere challenger is gaining; and the spurned lieutenant governor running mate is fuming."

Gabrieli, a venture capitalist, spent $5 million of his own money in an unsuccessful bid for a congressional seat in 1998, coming in a distant sixth in a 10-person race. He also spent $5 million of his funds supporting his nomination for lieutenant governor and the general election campaign with Shannon O'Brien in 2002. He was prepared to spend another $5 million running with Reilly.

Philip W. Johnston, chairman of the state Democratic Party, said yesterday he would convene a special meeting of the party's rules committee to clarify which delegates are eligible to sign nominations papers. Initially, party officials said yesterday the entire pool of delegates was eligible to sign. But the rules say the signatures must come from ''elected convention delegates." The only elected delegates, 3,000 or 63 percent of the total, were those chosen at the Feb. 4 caucuses. The other 1,300 are designated delegates.

If he must get 500 signatures from the pool elected at the caucuses, Gabrieli supporters would face an uphill fight, because most of those delegates are already committed to Reilly or Patrick.

''It's a tough challenge to get 500 signatures, but Chris is very popular within the Democratic Party," Johnston said.

Indeed, the party would face a major challenge if Gabrieli were to press his case. He has been a serious candidate in two major previous campaigns. He has also used his fortune to advance Democratic causes, including overhauling education and stem cell research, through a nonprofit organization that he established.

Reaction from the Reilly and Patrick campaigns was muted.

''Tom has great respect for Chris, particularly for his work on education and in the business community," said Reilly's press secretary, Corey Welford.

Patrick's spokesman, Kahlil Byrd, said Patrick ''has long admired the thoughtful way Mr. Gabrieli has approached policy and would welcome him to the race."

He also alluded to the fact that Gabrieli's entry would be based in part on animus for Reilly's handling of the selection process for a running mate.

''But whatever the issue between Mr. Reilly and Mr. Gabrieli, Deval and his campaign will continue talking to people all over this state about what's really important to them," Byrd said.