There were two sets of winners and losers in the Massachusetts party primary yesterday - the presidential candidates who put their names on the ballot and the state politicians who chose sides and put their prestige on the line.
The state's three most powerful statewide Democrats - Governor Deval Patrick and Senators Edward M. Kennedy and John F. Kerry - lined up behind Senator Barack Obama, and wound up with a sound defeat when he was beaten by Senator Hillary Clinton.
That coalition, relying heavily on Patrick's grass-roots organization, went up against the formidable ground operation fielded by Mayor Thomas M. Menino, who was joined in his support of Senator Hillary Clinton by House Speaker Salvatore F. DiMasi and Senate President Therese Murray, who chalked up a victory.
Menino's win was diminished, however, because he could not deliver enough support in Boston to propel Clinton to victory in his own city. Obama beat Clinton in Boston by less than 10,000 votes. "Obama beats Menino, and Clinton beats Kennedy and Patrick," said Dan Payne, a Democratic media consultant. "It's an interesting mix of endorsements and outcomes. The endorsements on both sides may not have made much of a difference. In a presidential election, people make up their own minds. "
All had something to gain by picking the winner, especially if their candidate ultimately lands in the White House and is in a position to dole out plum administration jobs.
But even in defeat, Patrick, or in a mixed victory, Menino, suffered little, their supporters said. Councilor Michael McCormack of Boston said Menino would look good even if Boston tipped for Obama.
"He can say it was Barack Obama's time," McCormack said. "He's the hot item."
Clinton's statewide victory, particularly by such a wide margin, could tarnish Patrick's image with voters here or be viewed as a repudiation of Patrick, whose style has been likened to Obama's. But his supporters say he still emerges a winner, despite the outcome, because Obama appeared to be doing better last night than had been indicated by early polls.
"It's clear the support of Deval, John, and Ted had a big impact in the state, even if Obama loses," said former State Democratic Party chairman Philip Johnston, an Obama backer.
An ultimate Obama victory in the presidential race, Johnston said, would elevate Patrick's standing here and across the country. And it would give the state much more sway in Washington.
"Deval becomes a national player as a consequence of his early and strong support for Obama, which took some guts," Johnston said. "If Obama wins the nomination and is elected president, we're going to be the winners."
Patrick would seem to be an easy choice for a Cabinet job in an Obama administration, but Democratic state party chairman John Walsh said Patrick would not be interested.
Few GOP leaders, except state representatives and state senators, backed Mitt Romney. Many former GOP officials, including former governor Paul Cellucci and former state treasurer Joe Malone, were with former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani before switching to Senator John McCain. Those more likely to benefit if McCain wins the presidency are local politicians who came out early in support of McCain, including Plymouth County Sheriff Joseph McDonald Jr.
"It was not a very difficult decision at all," he said. "Romney never reached out to me to be a supporter of his."
