Patrick meets with Beacon Hill leaders

Deval L. Patrick, who has cultivated an outsider image by criticizing the political establishment on Beacon Hill, met privately yesterday with Senate President Robert E. Travaglini and House Speaker Salvatore F. DiMasi to solidify their support.

The lawmakers pledged to support Patrick, legislative aides said, and vowed to help raise money to elect the Democratic nominee. The meeting appeared to be an effort to calm fears about Patrick's campaign rhetoric criticizing Beacon Hill, the aides said.

Patrick's campaign sought to downplay some of his rhetoric yesterday.

``We're running for governor," said Doug Rubin, a senior Patrick adviser. ``A lot of that is directed to the current leadership in the executive office. Deval is serious about bringing real change to Beacon Hill and is hopeful the legislative leadership will embrace that change and work with him."

Patrick has repeatedly castigated the Beacon Hill establishment during his campaign, rarely distinguishing between the Democrat-dominated Legislature and the Republican governor's office. Lieutenant Governor Kerry Healey, the GOP nominee, portrays herself as a counterbalance to the Legislature.

At a Sept. 7 debate, Patrick said: ``I have no obligations, no debts to the political establishment on Beacon Hill. If you want the same old same old, the politics of money and connections, I'm not your guy. But if what you want is the politics of hope and a change of culture on Beacon Hill, I am your guy, and I want your vote."

When he won the Democratic primary Sept. 19, he exulted, ``Let them hear that on Beacon Hill." He has since aired a television commercial linking Healey to ``the failed politics of Beacon Hill."

Last week Patrick began reaching out to other lawmakers, many of whom supported one of his rivals before the Sept. 19 primary.

``We worked through all the constitutional officeholders and almost all the state senators and a number of state reps, as well as a number of mayors," Rubin said. ``He's talking to them about his reasons for running and wanting to bring change to Beacon Hill and asking them to be supportive."

Healey slammed Patrick yesterday for meeting with lawmakers.

``Deval is now building up his team of Beacon Hill insiders, the same group who share his vision for higher taxes and more state spending," said Tim O'Brien, Healey's campaign manager. ``This is further evidence why we need Kerry Healey as a fiscal watch dog in the corner office."

Even before yesterday's meeting, Travaglini and DiMasi had begun raising money for their fellow Democrat. Traditionally, the legislative leaders raise much of their campaign money from lobbyists and special interests with business on Beacon Hill.

DiMasi asked his members to attend a unity luncheon at the Park Plaza Monday, where more than $500,000 was raised for Victory '06, a state Democratic Party campaign account.

State Senators Therese Murray and Frederick E. Berry, who are Travaglini's closest Senate allies, sent out a fund-raising letter this week, urging colleagues to cohost a fund-raiser for Victory `06 at Tecce's Restaurant next month.

``We are writing today to ask you to join the Senate Democratic effort to take back the corner office," Murray and Berry wrote to their colleagues.

Legislators who are jumping on the Patrick bandwagon say they're not offended by his scathing rhetoric.

Senator Michael W. Morrissey of Quincy, who backed Christopher Gabrieli in the Democratic primary, said he doesn't take the criticism personally. He volunteered to help Patrick last week, without being called.

``I like to think that the culture he's talking about is the 16 years that the Republicans have been on Beacon Hill," he said.

``Besides, everybody runs against us," Morrissey said. ``What's the difference? Who wants to ally themselves with the Legislature? Everyone likes us in our district, but we're hated as a group. I'd rather have him say the truth."

State Representative Anthony Petruccelli, Democrat of East Boston, said he was called by Patrick Wednesday.

``I was humbled by it," Petruccelli said. ``I was with Chris Gabrieli. For him to take the time out of his schedule to reach out and call me speaks volumes about the type of campaign he's run. It makes you feel a part of the team."

Also yesterday, the Telegram & Gazette reported that Mayor Dean Mazzarella of Leominster planned to contact the Democratic nominee to ask him about a criminal case that has touched off a politically charged debate.

Patrick is listed on a testimonial website on behalf of Benjamin LaGuer, who was convicted in 1984 of raping a 59-year-old woman. He has maintained his innocence.

According to the Associated Press, Patrick yesterday told reporters: ``I know who he is. He is someone on whose behalf I wrote I think maybe 15 years ago."