Patrick's book pitch didn't tell the whole story

Obama helped swell crowd at Common event

Governor Deval Patrick said in his book proposal that he was able to "fill the Boston Common recently with ten thousand people," a boast intended to prove to publishers that his message of hope and optimism generates enthusiasm and will translate into sales.

But Patrick left out a key fact about the Oct. 23 Boston Common rally.

It was held to celebrate Patrick's endorsement of Senator Barack Obama, the Democratic presidential candidate, who stood by Patrick's side at the event. Obama has filled sports stadiums around the country and caused onlookers to faint during his speeches, and he was almost certainly the bigger draw on the Common that day.

Critics suggested yesterday that Patrick's assertion was like an opening band saying it filled Madison Square Garden without mentioning that the Rolling Stones later took the stage.

"That's a bit of a hyperbole, I think," said Senate minority leader Richard R. Tisei. "People who went to that event were more interested in hearing Obama than hearing the governor."

In the proposal for the book, to be called "A Reason To Believe: Lessons on Leadership and Life," Patrick tried to demonstrate to publishers that he could be a big draw and sell at least 150,000 hardcover copies.

"I was able to fill the Boston Common recently with 10,000 people eager to hear my dreams for the future," Patrick wrote toward the end of the proposal. "I believe that I can partner with my publisher to develop widely followed book signing events that will generate the sorts of crowds at readings or lines at book signings that translate into a book's ascent to the top of bestseller lists."

Obama's campaign said the October rally drew 9,500 people to the Common. Patrick did get rave reviews for his speech, and his campaign network helped promote and draw people to the event. A 2:23-minute clip posted on Obama's site shows Patrick speaking to a large crowd.

Two spokesmen in Patrick's administration confirmed this week that Patrick was referring to the Obama rally, but they declined to comment. To bolster their case that Patrick generated the crowd, Patrick's aides yesterday distributed a blog post on the website of MSNBC with the headline, "Patrick Endorses Obama, Steals the Show."

"Several thousand people gathered on Boston Common to hear Obama speak, but it was Patrick who seemingly stole the show," wrote Aswini Anburajan, a reporter for NBC and National Journal, in the blog post distributed by Patrick's aides.

"He zealously delivered Obama's message of national reconciliation, while slamming Senator [Hillary] Clinton without once mentioning her by name," the post said. ". . . Patrick took Obama's message of the need for political change in this election and turned it into a referendum on character and values."

Patrick's administration also had the Obama campaign contact the Globe with a comment. "Deval Patrick is governor today because he built a powerful, grass-roots movement for change," said Amy Brundage, Obama campaign spokeswoman. "We were grateful for the essential help he gave in putting together the endorsement event in Boston last fall, at which thousands of the Governor's supporters appeared."

Patrick has delivered speeches at several other events at Boston Common, although none drew as many as 10,000 people. During a speech on Boston Common in the final weeks of the 2006 gubernatorial race, Patrick aides estimated the crowd to be more than 5,000.

Crowd estimates varied widely for his inauguration ceremony, which took place on the steps of the State House with overflowing crowds on Boston Common. Patrick's aides told the Globe there were 13,000 people, even though an official at the state Department of Conservation and Recreation estimated it at a couple of thousand.

The Globe reported details yesterday from a 65-page pitch letter that led to his $1.35 million advance last week from a Random House imprint. When the book is published in 2010, Patrick is planning a "vigorous media campaign," a nationwide book-signing tour, multiple speaking engagements, and efforts to persuade big corporations to buy the book in bulk.

The document describes an unusual business arrangement in which A Better Chance, the charity that lifted Patrick out of the South Side of Chicago and sent him to Milton Academy, will play an integral role in promoting and marketing the book through a ready-made network of national leaders, corporate supporters, and pre-scheduled events.

In return for its help, Patrick is planning to give the charity a portion of his royalties and speaking fees. Patrick and his aides have refused to disclose his arrangements with A Better Chance. Asked by a reporter at an event at the University of Massachusetts-Lowell yesterday if he would discuss the percentage of book proceeds that will be paid to the charity, the governor replied, "No," and walked away.

The State Republican Party pounced yesterday on his assertion that he drew 10,000 to the Boston Common for an event at which Obama was speaking.

"Is this book fiction or nonfiction?" said Barney Keller, spokesman for the Massachusetts Republican Party. "Governor Patrick couldn't get 81 legislators to vote for his casinos. Why does he think that 10,000 people would come to hear him speak? Next thing you know he'll throw out the first pitch at Fenway and claim 30,000 people came to see him do it."

David Abel of the Globe staff contributed to this report. Matt Viser can be reached at maviser@globe.com.