Murray says he's 'ready to rock and roll'
Worcester mayor wins spot on ticket
WORCESTER -- Moments after declaring victory as the Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor last night, Worcester Mayor Timothy P. Murray went on the attack, criticizing the Republicans for not funding law enforcement, overseeing an inadequate commuter rail system, and allowing property taxes to increase at a rapid clip.
``They have a record in this state, and we're not going to let them run away from it," Murray told hundreds of supporters gathered in the cavernous Union Station in Worcester. ``We're going to change politics in Massachusetts and bring it back to where it belongs -- on the people's side."
Murray provides the Democrats with a candidate who has name recognition and grass-roots support in Central Massachusetts, an area that is now a key battleground the Democrats lost decisively in the 2002 election. Reed Hillman, the Republican nominee for lieutenant governor, is from Sturbridge, which is also in Worcester County.
In the Democratic primary race, Murray defeated two women opponents who were well financed with ideas that gained traction. But Murray was the only candidate who lived west of Route 128 and was able to provide the ticket with geographic balance.
Sunburned after a day of campaigning, Murray jubilantly thanked a crowd of supporters in his hometown before ducking into a car for Boston, where he joined the celebration of his new running mate, Deval Patrick .
``I'm happy to report to you, the Patrick/Murray team is ready to rock and roll," Murray said.
With 93 percent of precincts reporting, Murray received 43 percent of the vote. Deborah Goldberg , chairwoman of the Brookline Board of Selectmen, had 34 percent, and Andrea Silbert, a Harwich businesswoman who cofounded the Center for Women and Enterprise, got 23 percent.
Patrick kept his supporters waiting for about two hours before addressing the crowd once Murray arrived, an indication that Murray could play a key role in their race for the corner office.
``There's no question it's going to be a rough-and-tumble campaign," Murray said in an interview.
Murray, 38, won his first election in 1997 in a Worcester City Council race, and since 2001, he's held the seat of mayor in the second largest city in Massachusetts. On the campaign trail, he has used his boyish charm to try to carve out an image of being an everyman. He and his wife, Tammy, have one daughter.
Fighting largely in the shadows of the Democratic gubernatorial race, the candidates for lieutenant governor had struggled to find toeholds and establish name recognition with voters. Murray, who won several key endorsements, had relied largely on an organization he had assembled over several elections in Worcester.
To get her message out, Goldberg, an heir to the Stop & Shop fortune, sank $2.1 million of her personal money into her campaign, financing all but $600,000 of her run. Silbert had placed ads touting her as a jobs candidate, while Murray hammered away with a message of government experience.
Murray had been an early favorite, but the other candidates had gained ground in the weeks leading to the election. Silbert had made up a significant third-place deficit, and the candidates woke yesterday virtually tied, according to several polls.
Silbert and Goldberg both called Murray around 10 last night to concede the race and offer their congratulations.
Russell Nichols of the Globe staff contributed to this report. 