First off, Congressman Ed Markey (D. MA) received a big endorsement that could help him get Latino voters out to the polls for him on June 25th:
http://www.bostonglobe.com/...
The largest Spanish-language newspaper in Massachusetts is endorsing US Representative Edward J. Markey over Gabriel E. Gomez in the US Senate race, saying Markey’s stance on the issues should override any desire to catapult the first Latino senator from the state into office.
El Planeta, a Somerville-based newspaper with a circulation of 40,000, said it endorsed Markey because the Irish-American Democrat would fight harder “to continue opening doors” for Latinos than Gomez, the son of Colombian immigrants and the Republican nominee.
“You would expect that for a Spanish-language media outlet, during an electoral campaign with a Latino US Senate candidate, the decision to support him would be easy,” the three-person editorial board wrote in an endorsement to be published Friday. But, they added, “on the matters that most affect the Latino community in Massachusetts, we think that Edward Markey has demonstrated a greater commitment to the defense of those issues than the Republican candidate, Gabriel Gómez.”
The endorsement is the first for the newspaper, founded in 2004, and follows a string of endorsements from prominent Latinos that could sway the Latino electorate in Markey’s favor in the June 25 special election. Latinos are 10 percent of the state’s population but 6 percent of eligible voters; many are too young to vote or are not US citizens.
Still, with nearly 300,000 eligible Latino voters from Boston to Springfield, an increased turnout could make a difference in a race that has narrowed. Both candidates are scrambling to court voters in English and Spanish: Markey has campaigned in ethnic enclaves in Boston and Springfield, home to the largest Latino populations in the state, while Gomez lobbied Latinos last weekend at backyard barbecues and will hold a Latino town hall Saturday in Southbridge. - Boston Globe, 6/14/13
Unfortunately my Spanish is very rusty but here's a section of El Planeta's endorsement of Markey along with the link to the article:
http://tuboston.com/...
Nos referimos concretamente a las posturas expresadas por el candidato demócrata en su apoyo sin titubeos a aprobar un camino a la ciudadanía en el contexto de la reforma migratoria, igualmente su apoyo a la reforma de salud impulsada por el presidente Obama, su compromiso a luchar por un presupuesto que cumpla con las expectativas de los programas sociales (educación y salud) de nuestro estado, su posición a favor del control de armas de asalto y su defensa del derecho de la mujer a elegir. En todos estos temas, Edward Markey ha mostrado resolución mientras que el candidato Gabriel Gómez ha exhibido posturas erráticas que sugieren por lo menos, conflictos de identificación con la agenda central de su partido.
Ambos candidatos son descendientes cercanos de inmigrantes y ambos lograron atravesar con éxito una pequeña puerta en el sistema para llegar a donde han llegado. Sin embargo, creemos que el candidato demócrata Edward Markey ha sido más claro en definir un set de políticas cónsonas con las del Presidente Obama para que el sistema al cual va a servir siga abriendo puertas para el resto de nosotros. - El Planeta, 6/13/13
Kind of a blow for Gabriel Gomez (R. MA) since he has been working to get the Latino vote on his side. So now he's relying on a new Super PAC to help him buy this race:
http://www.nationaljournal.com/...
A newly formed group is poised to become the first outside organization to run TV ads in support of Republican Massachusetts Senate candidate Gabriel Gomez, it said Wednesday.
The group, Americans for Progressive Action, said it was launching a "significant ad buy" in the state -- one Republican source said the purchase was worth $581,000.
In a statement, the group presented itself as non-partisan.
"Americans for Progressive Action is focused on having a positive impact on elections in America by supporting and promoting candidates that represent a better future for America," said Sheena Tahilramani, a spokeswoman for the group. "We believe that this will include people with a more independent streak who care more about doing what is right, than relying on partisan politics."
Gomez is running in a special Senate election race against Democratic Rep. Ed Markey,
who has outspent Gomez with the help of outside Democratic groups.
"In Massachusetts, we saw a moderate, reasonable candidate with very little outside help who was being outspent by Democrats 3 to 1," she said. "Gabriel Gomez is a great American—an American hero—and we want him to have the opportunity to make his case to the people of Massachusetts."
But the truth might be murkier. Americans for Progressive Action formed only June 5, according to documents filed with the Federal Election Commission. Its treasurer, Nancy Watkins, served as treasurer for Bachmann's presidential campaign, but she's more well-known in Florida and Republican circles as a go-to campaign finance law expert. She's served as treasurer on dozens of campaigns, and is a former top donor to George W. Bush's presidential campaign.
Her connections to Bachmann led Democrats to pounce on the suggestion that conservative Republicans were lining up behind Gomez's candidacy.
"The fact that Michelle Bachmann's campaign treasurer is spending $700,000 to support Gabriel Gomez tells Massachusetts voters everything they need to know about the kind of Republican policies Gomez would support in the US Senate," said DSCC spokesman Matt Canter. - National Journal, 6/12/13
And the man Gomez wishes he was is back to try and save his campaign:
http://www.masslive.com/...
At a ceremony honoring the memory of late Massachusetts Governor Paul Cellucci on Thursday, former Republican U.S. Sen. Scott Brown told the Boston Globe that he would do "whatever" he could to help GOP Senate hopeful Gabriel Gomez in his plight against longtime Democratic U.S. Rep. Edward Markey.
Less than 24 hours later, a fundraising email from Brown went out to Gomez supporters with the subject "Let's show them again," referring to Brown's 2010 special election upset victory over his confident Democratic challenger, Martha Coakley.
"Recent polls show the race a dead heat, confirming what we have known all along - Gabriel Gomez is a great candidate, running a strong campaign," Brown wrote in the fundraising pitch. "But this time Washington's power brokers know what they're up against. We won't be able to take them by surprise like we did in 2010."
All non-partisan polls in the special U.S. Senate election have showed Markey leading over Gomez, but by conflicting margins. The most recent poll conducted by WBUR concluded that Markey holds only a seven-point lead – a conclusion identical to a Suffolk University poll released on Monday. In previous weeks, Markey was holding a double-digit lead over Gomez. - The Republican, 6/14/13
Gomez needs Brown and the Super PAC cash now more than ever. Especially since Markey has been hitting Gomez hard about refusing to release his full client list during Gomez's private equity career:
http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/...
The Globe reported Thursday that during Gomez's tenure as a principal at Advent International, one client that he worked with closely, Synventive Molding Solutions, expanded its operations in China while laying off workers in the U.S.
"Revelations that at Advent Gomez helped takeover American companies, only to lay off hard-working Massachusetts workers and expand their employer's operations overseas make it all the more important for Gomez to finally come clean with the people of the Commonwealth by revealing his full list of clients," campaign manager Sarah Benzing said in a statement obtained by TPM. "The Markey campaign calls on Mr. Gomez to stop ducking questions about his business record, reveal the list of his clients and allow voters to use that information to help determine what kind of Senator he would be."
Markey's campaign has repeatedly called for Gomez to discuss his business record in detail and release his client list, but Gomez has remained tight-lipped. When the Globe asked Gomez at a campaign event about his record of creating jobs overseas, Gomez curtly responded "that's not true" before slamming his car door as an aide drove him away. - TPM, 6/14/13
Plus top Democrats from President Obama to Vice President Joe Biden to DNC Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz have been hitting the campaign trail hard for Markey. Former President Bill Clinton will be in Worcester this Saturday to help rile up the base some more for Markey. Meanwhile, top Massachusetts Democrats have been campaigning hard for Markey as well:
http://www.masslive.com/...
Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Gov. Deval Patrick, both Democrats, will visit Western Massachusetts on Saturday to campaign on behalf of Democratic Senate candidate Edward Markey.
Both will kick off canvassing events aimed at energizing volunteers and getting voters to turn out for the June 25 special election between Markey, a U.S. representative, and Republican private equity investor Gabriel Gomez.
Warren will attend a 12:30 p.m. canvass kick-off event in Holyoke with Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse at the Markey field office, 1548 Northampton St. Patrick will meet campaign volunteers at 12:45 in Pittsfield at the Berkshire Brigades Field Office, 55 North St.
Western Massachusetts is one of the most liberal parts of the state, and Markey is likely hoping to boost turnout among Democratic and independent voters. - The Republican, 6/14/13
Markey's colleague, Rep. Jim McGovern (D. MA-02) is also helping out the Markey campaign:
http://www.gazettenet.com/...
Democratic Congressman Edward Markey’s campaign for U.S. Senate will bring him to Northampton on Saturday, and he’s bringing some heavy hitters with him.
Markey, who is squaring off against Republican Gabriel Gomez in a special election June 25, will hold a campaign fundraiser and rally at 2 p.m. Saturday at R. Michelson Galleries, 132 Main St.
He will be joined by U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren and U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern, as well as many Democratic leaders from the region.
“It’s very exciting that we’re going to have Edward Markey, Elizabeth Warren and Jim McGovern in one place this Saturday in Northampton,” said Thomas Lesser , a Northampton lawyer who is an organizer of the event. All three are expected to speak, he added.
Other notables expected to attend include state senators Stanley Rosenberg of Amherst and Benjamin Downing of Pittsfield; state representatives Peter Kocot of Northampton, Stephen Kulik of Worthington, John Scibak of South Hadley and Ellen Story of Amherst; former U.S. Rep. John Olver of Amherst; and Northampton Mayor David J. Narkewicz and Northwestern District Attorney David Sullivan.
“Everybody will circulate throughout the reception,” Lesser said. “It’s a great opportunity to meet people.”
The event begins with a 30-minute “pre-reception” at 2 p.m. for people who agree to donate or raise between $1,000 and $2,500, followed by a general reception, from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m., for those who donate between $50 and $500. Lesser said about 100 people have signed up. - Gazette, 6/13/13
If you would like to get involved with the Markey campaign, you can do so here:
http://www.edmarkey.com/