Job posting seeks press secretary for Senate race

By Glen Johnson, Globe Staff

Massachusetts Democrats weighing a US Senate campaign next year against Republican Scott Brown are still acting coy publicly, but they're betraying themselves electronically.

Over the weekend, word broke about an e-mail showing a supporter of Newton Mayor Setti Warren was trying to stockpile talent for a campaign starting in late April.

Today, an e-mail surfaced showing local communications strategist Dorie Clark seeking a campaign press secretary.

"A Democratic US Senate campaign seeks a press secretary," Clark wrote in an e-mail dated March 11, dropping any question about whether her candidate would run. "The ideal candidate will have on-the-record experience with a federal or statewide campaign. The position in based in Boston, Mass."

She asked that resumes be sent to her company e-mail address.

The request is also being circulated on the "JobsthatareLEFT" Google chat group, which seeks positions for liberal Democratic workers moving between campaigns.

When Clark was contacted by the Globe, she refused to explain for whom she was working.

"No comment at this point, I'm afraid," she wrote.

Clark is based in Somerville, the same hometown as Representative Michael Capuano, a prospective candidate. When he ran in the primary preceding last year's US Senate special election, he relied on his own congressional staff — namely spokeswoman Alison Mills — for his campaign needs.

Meanwhile, Robert Massie of Somerville has also announced he's running for the Democratic nomination. His campaign manager sent out a press release today touting Massie's showing in a weekend straw conducted by the North Andover Democratic Town Committee.

Massie was first, with 30 of 74 votes, or about 41 percent. Driscoll, who joined Massie in attending the meeting, was second with 18. Capuano had 14; Representative Stephen Lynch had 4; City Year co-founder Alan Khazei and Representative Edward J. Markey had 3 apiece; and Warren and finance executive Robert Pozen each received no votes.

Massie's campaign manager, Matt Wilson, said the ad was not for their campaign.

Khazei supporters took the none-too-subtle step last week of filing papers with the IRS to create a Senate exploratory committee.

While he said the press secretary ad isn't his, another posting on "JobsthatareLEFT" sought campaign finance workers for his exploratory committee.

"Responsibilities include: traveling and working directly with the candidate, organizing and coordinating events, organizing and working directly with donors, compiling and analyzing data, and developing and implementing strategic finance plans," the post says.

It adds: "Applicants must have a strong desire to work in the intense environment of a political campaign."

Glen Johnson can be reached at johnson@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @globeglen.