2 unions spending big for Patrick of Massachusetts (about $4 million)

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.boston.com/news/local/politics/candidates/articles/2006/11/01/2_unions_spending_big_for_patrick/

2 unions spending big for Patrick

By Brian C. Mooney, Globe Staff | November 1, 2006

Labor unions have poured about $4 million into their efforts to boost Deval L. Patrick in the closing weeks of the campaign. The spending gives the front-running Democrat a financial edge over Republican Kerry Healey, his chief rival, down the stretch.

Led by the Massachusetts Teachers Association, which has bought nearly $2.3 million in advertising time, labor unions' messages have been highly critical of the lieutenant governor and Mitt Romney, the governor she is attempting to succeed.

Healey has heavily outspent Patrick on ads since the Sept. 19 primary, by about a 2-to-1 margin, but the Democrats' allies have been an equalizer.

Healey has been tagged for the tone of her ads, many of them starkly negative in an attempt to cut into a Patrick lead that exceeded 30 points in some polls after the primary. Patrick and his proxies, however, have put up some tough spots in recent weeks. Moreover, his campaign has reinforced the image of Healey's attack ads by crafting several ads that slam her for negativity.

"There's been an onslaught of negative ads or comparative ads by both sides, and this characterization that the tone of this campaign is negative just because of the Healey campaign is false," said Tim O'Brien, campaign manager for Healey.