Five voters: getting closer to a conclusion

CHRISTOPHER TUCKER
Mattapan, 55
Retired computer industry professional
Was leaning: Deval Patrick
After the debate: Still Patrick.

Tucker said he liked Patrick's call to eliminate earmarks for local projects in the state budget, and to invest research money in the state's public higher education institutions. ``Gabrieli did have some good ideas, but it did seem that Mr. Patrick did have more concrete proposals," he said. ``I think Gabrieli would do a good job. I think Patrick would do a better job." Tucker said Reilly's attacks backfired. ``Every time he was asked a question it seemed he turned it into an attack on Gabrieli or Patrick, which did not endear him to me at all," he said. When Reilly charged that Gabrieli had leaked tax information about Reilly's former running mate, state Representative Marie St. Fleur, to the media, Tucker said, ``that really stuck in my craw." Tucker also said he felt Patrick, the state's first major African-American candidate for governor, would bring a valuable perspective to the corner office.

SUSAN KIRSHENBAUM
Newton, 47
Runs consulting firm
Was leaning: Undecided
After the debate: Patrick, but still considering Gabrieli.

Kirshenbaum came away believing Patrick has the leadership skills and vision to lead the state. But she's not ruling out Gabrieli, whom she considers a strategic and creative thinker. ``If I had to vote tomorrow, I would vote for Deval," she said. But, she said, ``What I will really do between now and the 19th is push harder on understanding the difference between the two." Kirshenbaum said she liked Patrick's varied experience in government, business, and the nonprofit sector. She also liked Patrick's discussion about how to bring more jobs to Massachusetts, particularly on how a governor can encourage companies to locate or expand here without necessarily spending state money. Kirshenbaum said it seemed to her at times that Gabrieli and Patrick were having a debate and ignoring Reilly. The attorney general deserves credit for what he's done, she said, but even her 14-year-old daughter felt he had misfired in his attacks against Gabrieli and Patrick.

BOB DOVIDIO
Somerville, 69
Retired manager for defense firm
Was leaning: Gabrieli
After: Gabrieli.

Dovidio has supported all three Democrats at different points during the campaign, but last night's debate strengthened what he had been feeling recently: that Gabrieli would be the most effective and fiscally responsible governor. Gabrieli, he said, was the candidate most able to stand up to legislative leaders, who he said are spending money frivolously. ``I think he could take the fiscal responsibility from the leadership and tell them that we can't spend $2 where we only have $1," he said. Dovidio said he was impressed with Patrick, too, and wouldn't mind seeing him as governor. But he fears Patrick would not be able to stand up to lawmakers as Gabrieli can. Dovidio also said he believes Gabrieli's phased approach to rolling back the state income tax rate made the most sense. ``You've got to be responsible," he said. Dovidio said he was put off by Reilly's boasting about his record. Reilly's attempts to paint Gabrieli and Patrick as rich businessmen fell flat, he said. As for Gabrieli's wealth, he said, ``I look at it as, he made the money, he can do what he wants."

RUTH KUNDSIN
Quincy, 90
Retired professor at Harvard Medical School
Was leaning: Undecided
After: Patrick

Kundsin said her friends had been talking up Patrick, but she hadn't had a chance to see for herself until last night. After watching, she said, she's now ``very convinced" he's the best candidate. ``He's very positive, and I liked that," she said. ``I hope, I hope he gets elected, because I think he'd be a great governor." Kundsin said she's an ardent believer in solar power and liked Patrick's comments about investing in alternative energy. Kundsin said she found Gabrieli smooth and smart, but that she believes Patrick is genuine. ``There's a difference between being smart and being genuine," she said. Reilly, she said, didn't offer anything positive or creative. ``I didn't bond with him," she said. ``I think he was uncomfortable and I felt uncomfortable." Reilly's efforts to portray Patrick as a greedy corporate executive didn't work, she said, citing the civil rights work Patrick performed earlier in his career.

DANIEL COLCHAMIRO
Mansfield, 32
Sixth-grade science teacher
Was leaning: Undecided
After: Patrick, but still considering Gabrieli.

Colchamiro said the debate could be scored almost evenly for Patrick and Gabrieli, but what he heard pushed him more toward Patrick. ``I consider myself liberal, and I think he came off very well," he said. ``He was very composed, very intelligent-sounding, and looked very good up there on camera -- he looked very natural." Colchamiro said he agreed with Patrick's take on the new healthcare law -- that although it's not perfect, the state needs to give it a chance. He said he also liked how Patrick didn't run from his corporate experiences when Reilly challenged him. ``Instead he tried to highlight them," he said. ``Reilly tried to deny that -- he tried to totally be the working man, but if you're this high up as a politician you can't really be a regular person." Of Reilly's attacks, he said, ``I don't think it's suited to him and I think he's resorting to it because he's getting desperate . . . It made him seem kind of mean." Still, Colchamiro said Gabrieli came off very poised, and thinks his value may be that he has a better chance of beating Republican Kerry Healey in the general election.

The five voters were identified from a recent Globe poll of likely voters in the Sept. 19 Democratic primary.