Democrats jumped gun on Gabrieli

It's Dewey Defeats Truman, Massachusetts-style.

Democratic strategists were so confident that gubernatorial candidate Thomas F. Reilly would name Chris Gabrieli as his choice for lieutenant governor that they printed 4,000 letters from Gabrieli announcing the union.

Oops.

The planned Reilly-Gabrieli partnership fell apart Sunday, and Reilly picked state Representative Marie St. Fleur Tuesday. She dropped out of the race Wednesday after the Globe reported she had three delinquent tax debts in four years and owed $40,000 in delinquent student loans.

Gabrieli's letter is dated Tuesday, Jan. 31, the day Reilly announced St. Fleur as his choice.

''I am writing you today with exciting news," Gabrieli's letter to supporters begins. ''I have decided to run for lieutenant governor as part of a ticket with Attorney General Tom Reilly."

''It is not an easy decision to run for office again," the Gabrieli letter said. ''I know that campaigns are long and difficult. You spend a lot of time away from your family, and sometimes your opponents and the media say things about you that are not very nice." It continues on page two: ''I appreciate his confidence that I can be an effective partner, especially around education and economic growth and jobs."

Asked about the Gabrieli letter last night, Reilly campaign spokesman Corey Welford downplayed it.

''It's no secret that Tom was in serious discussions with Chris Gabrieli," Welford said. ''It should be no surprise that material was prepared to announce that decision if and when it was made."