Patrick questioned on labor commitment

Deval L. Patrick and his two rivals for the Democratic nomination for governor have all picked up union endorsements.

And with those endorsements comes the rough-and-tumble world of union politics.

Last week, union leaders raised questions about Patrick's commitment to organized labor after hearing from several of their members that he built his Richmond summer estate with nonunion workers.

``As Massachusetts labor leaders it was disconcerting to hear recently that your more than $3 million project in Richmond, MA is being constructed entirely without the use of union labor," wrote Stephen G. MacDougall, president of the Boston Carmen's Union and a vice president of the Massachusetts AFL-CIO; and Robert Losi, president of the Mail Handlers Union.

John Laughlin, political director of the 4,000-member Painters District Council 35, said his union endorsed Christopher Gabrieli in part because of questions about Patrick's summer home.

``We're not talking about repainting someone's kitchen or rehabbing a triple decker," said Laughlin.

``There have been issues of people in public life who advocate in favor of labor standards -- healthcare and pensions -- and they are put to the test when they do their own projects," said Laughlin. ``John Kerry had union workers in to rehab his home in Louisburg Square and several years ago we took Joe Kennedy to task for painting his house in Brighton with nonunion painters."

Joe Dart, president of the Massachusetts Building Trades Council, said Western Massachusetts unions were ``disappointed" that they weren't offered a chance to work on the job.

Patrick's campaign would not say whether the house was built with nonunion workers, and issued the following statement:

``Deval and his wife Diane have been blessed. Their house in Richmond is a place where they and their extended family can enjoy time together. During the construction, they did their due diligence like every other homeowner to ensure that all relevant laws were complied with."

Andrea Estes

Calling all `Mittheads'

It seems as if every day a new blog or website pops up to stroke Mitt Romney's ego. Most share the same objective: To fawn over Romney's accomplishments, praise his positions unconditionally, and, ultimately, to drum up support for his putative presidential bid.

The latest entry is mymanmitt.com, a site run by Jason Bonham -- a Chicago-area professional violist -- that aims to raise Romney's profile by recruiting legions of so-called MittHeads. (Yes, you can buy buttons, stickers, and T-shirts.) Bonham is trying to build on the Internet-based model that Democrat Howard Dean used to great success in his 2004 presidential run.

``I could tell you all about the great things [Romney's] done and how distinguished the gray is behind his ears, but you already know it. So MMM is meant to do something else -- energize," Bonham writes. ``Let's get the MittHeads off the computer and out on the streets!"

Scott Helman

A collection effort

US Senator Edward M. Kennedy is pressing his colleagues in the Massachusetts congressional delegation to cough up some of their campaign funds for the state Democratic party in order to hit the ground running after Tuesday.

Over the past week, Kennedy called the 10 congressmen and told them they are expected to give the party $25,000 each. Kennedy is donating $100,000 from his campaign account and he has rounded up an equal amount from US Senator John F. Kerry. With that $350,000, chairman Philip W. Johnston is going to be close to his goal of having $1 million on hand the day after the primary to support the winner of the Democratic gubernatorial race -- and help the rest of the ticket, including Kennedy, who faces Republican opposition.

Four years ago, when a bruised, battered and nearly penniless Shannon O'Brien declared victory over three other Democratic contenders for governor, the party had nothing to help her launch her campaign.

It took weeks before she could get an ad on television and compete with Mitt Romney, who was self-financing his campaign to flood the airwaves.

Frank Phillips

Check boston.com all day Tuesday for continuing coverage of the primary election. The Globe political team will start before the polls open at 8 a.m. and offer updates online on all the action throughout the day.