McCain, Edwards get pole position on Mass. ballot

By Brian C. Mooney, Globe Staff

When it comes to the order on the Massachusetts presidential primary ballot, former governor Mitt Romney will not enjoy any home field advantage on Feb. 5.

Romney drew the sixth position among eight Republicans at a drawing held today by Secretary of State William F. Galvin.

Senator John McCain of Arizona will be the first Republican name on the ballot, followed by Fred Thompson, Tom Tancredo, Duncan Hunter, Mike Huckabee, Romney, Ron Paul, and Rudy Giuliani.

On the Democratic ballot, former Senator John Edwards grabbed the top spot, followed by Hillary Clinton, Joseph R. Biden Jr., Christopher J. Dodd, Mike Gravel, Barack Obama, Dennis J. Kucinich, and Bill Richardson.

Massachusetts legislators voted last month to move the state's primary, which had been set for March, to Feb. 5, joining more than 20 states voting that day.