First Congressman Ed Markey (D. MA) gets the President's backing in his bid to win Secretary of State John Kerry's (D. MA) Senate seat, now the First lady is helping fundraise for Markey's campaign:
http://www.bostonglobe.com/...
Michelle Obama swooped into Boston today for a fundraiser for US Representative Edward J. Markey that was expected to net the Democratic Senate candidate at least $600,000 for his battle against Republican Gabriel E. Gomez.
“The first lady is a symbol of our future,” Markey told reporters outside the fundraiser at the Taj Boston. “She inspires millions of Americans, millions of people around the world, on a daily basis. So it is a tremendous honor for me to have the first lady here in Boston today, and I think it’s really going to provide real energy and impetus to my campaign.”
Inside the hotel, Obama told the crowd, “if you want to have my husband’s back, you need to support” Markey, according to a tweet from Carl Nilsson, Markey’s field director.
Well-heeled Democratic donors paid as much as $37,600 for tickets to the event, which benefits Markey Senate Victory, a joint fundraising committee of the Markey campaign and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. - Boston Globe, 5/29/13
Having the First Lady come to Boston and making sure that voters turn out for Markey and raising the fund to help him win is certainly key to winning the special election on June 25th. meanwhile, Markey's opponent, Gabriel Gomez (R. MA), has been trying to attack Markey on taxes:
http://www.boston.com/...
Republican Senate nominee Gabriel E. Gomez will attack Democratic US Representative Edward J. Markey on Tuesday for voting nearly 300 times in favor of higher taxes, a Gomez campaign adviser said.
At an afternoon event in Mattapan, Gomez will argue that Markey’s voting record during 37 years in Congress, including 271 votes in favor of higher taxes, has harmed small businesses. According to his campaign, Gomez will argue for “real tax reform” and a lower corporate tax rate.
“I can understand why Ed Markey thinks the answer to everything is higher taxes and more spending. He’s never had a real job in the real world,” Gomez will argue, according to excerpts provided by his campaign. “He is an out of touch, career Washington politician who has never had to make a payroll or balance a budget.”
The Gomez adviser said the private equity investor would not commit to a pledge pressed on many national Republicans to oppose any higher taxes.
Markey spokesman Andrew Zucker defended the Congressman. “Ed Markey has voted to enact more than a trillion dollars in tax cuts for small businesses, working families and the middle class. Equally important, he’s stood up to Republicans in Congress by fighting to close corporate tax loopholes, end unnecessary deductions and save $700 billion over ten years by putting a stop to corporate tax evasion that rewards companies for shipping jobs overseas,” Zucker said. - Boston Globe, 5/28/13
Last Friday, Markey picked up the endorsement from Boston Mayor Tom Menino (D) and he had some great things to say about Markey:
http://fenwaykenmore.patch.com/...
Speaking at a rally at the International Brotherhood of Eletrical Workers Local 103, Menino, a Democrat, said Markey has been with the city "at every corner."
Menino said Markey helped the city receive more Homeland Security funding, has been "out front" on gun control and sustainability.
"He's there for us all the time," Menino said.
Markey welcomed the endorsement, calling Menino "America's greatest mayor" and a "transformative figure" for Boston and Massachusetts.
"He has taken Boston and truly made it that shining beacon on a hill," Markey said. "His name might be Tom Meni-NO, but he says 'Yes' to anything that makes Boston a greater city."
Speaking to reporters after the rally, Menino said that if the June 25 special election leads to a low turnout, he expects Markey to defeat Republic nominee Gabriel Gomez of Cohasset.
"They don't have the excitment they had," Menino said of state Republicans. "(Former Republican Senator) Scott Brown had the excitement. There's no excitement for (Gomez)." - Fenway-Kenmore Patch, 5/28/13
The Special Election is Tuesday, June 25th. If you'd like to donate or get involved with the Markey campaign, you can do so here:
http://www.edmarkey.com/