So far, the wooing hasn't worked

WHY CAN'T I fall in love?

The Massachusetts gubernatorial field is set for now: three Democrats, one Republican and one independent.

But for me, it's the same old story. I'm not sure I want to spend the next four years with any one of them.

It's early in the race, but the 2006 campaign outline is already fairly predictable.

Three Democrats -- venture capitalist Chris Gabrieli, corporate lawyer Deval Patrick, and Attorney General Tom Reilly -- will spend the next few months arguing about who is more or less liberal until primary day. Lieutenant Governor Kerry Healey will work on her extreme makeover from Mitt Romney Republican to Republican In Name Only. Independent Christy Mihos will continue his vows to tear down toll booths and government, as usual.

And I will watch them, listen to them, and try, but probably fail, to find a political soulmate.

The first turn off is the endless emphasis on money.

Healey's campaign is built on the promise that her wealthy husband will spend whatever it takes to finance her campaign. The underpinning of Gabrieli's challenge is his promise to match Mr. Healey dollar for dollar. To gain credibility, Patrick had to prove he could raise money; brainpower was not enough. To stay credible, Reilly must continue raising cash at the pace that allowed him to build a $4 million warchest.

The second turnoff is the resume-puffing that begins early and continues until election day.

Gabrieli established the life sciences industry in Massachusetts. Patrick cleaned up corporate America simply by sitting, for princely sums, on several corporate boards. Reilly sent Cardinal Bernard Law packing after the clergy sexual abuse scandal paralyzed the Boston Archdiocese. Healey insists she and Romney created another Massachusetts economic miracle -- never mind the Bay State's jobs and population losses. And Mihos stared down Beacon Hill to uncover Big Dig overspending.

In politics, self-aggrandizement is a natural off shoot of the campaign process. Candidates promote themselves as super heroes and vilify opponents. They take more credit than is warranted to demonstrate relative superiority. But that as much as anything feeds the cynicism Patrick complained about in his speech to convention delegates in Worcester last weekend. A candidate makes a grandiose claim. With help from the media, an opponent shoots it down. And the voter is left holding another airless balloon. It's a prescription for disappointment, before and after the election.

Then come the life stories -- from beach shack to Prides Crossing; from Chicago tenement to Berkshires McMansion; from Springfield to Watertown. It's always about them. What about us?

It makes choosing difficult, except for people with longtime personal relationships with a specific candidate; or for ideological groupies who love slogans. ``No new taxes ever" versus ``No tax rollback ever." One Gang of Three (Bush-Romney-Healey) versus another Gang of Three (DiMasi-Travaglini and a Democrat to be named on primary day).

At this point, it's possible to make a case for any one of these candidates, although a Mihos victory seems the least plausible.

The convenience-market magnate was a credible voice against Big Dig excess, but his campaign to date is unpolished and he seems unprepared for the bright lights.

Healey can look to the voters' demonstrated desire to balance a Democrat-dominated Legislature with a Republican governor. Those who believe it's time for Massachusetts to elect a woman to a statewide office might also be drawn to her candidacy. But those positives are offset by the GOP pattern of winning and then abandoning the governor's office and Romney's severe case of Potomac Fever. Besides, Healey's resume in the public or private sector is also the weakest of the field.

As for the Democrats, Gabrieli has private-sector credentials, a solid record in the nonprofit world, and cash. Patrick has personality, the gift of gab, and a dedicated cult of true believers who love him no matter what. Reilly has the name recognition that goes with being a longtime elected official and the backing of the state political establishment.

That's the lineup, people.

I'll be listening for intelligence, creativity, humility, and humor -- not to mention someone who can explain why public school budgets must be slashed if the state has a $1 billion surplus.

If the earth moves, I'll let you know.

Joan Vennochi's e-mail address is vennochi@globe.com.