And if Reilly plays his cards right, he might actually turn his recent struggles into fodder for a new campaign narrative — one in which he’s both the everyman and the comeback kid. Raised in humble surroundings in Springfield; lucky to get into American International College (Patrick is a Harvard grad, remember); still rents an apartment with his wife in Watertown (in contrast with Patrick’s Milton manse); forced to claw his way back into the race after a rough few weeks — all that makes him an underdog. Not slick, not privileged, not Machiavellian. Just a regular guy who’ll look out for regular citizens.
There’s a story here waiting to be told, but the AG is too maladroit to do it on his own. What he needs — desperately — is a political team that can help him succeed despite himself. If Reilly doesn’t realize this soon, his campaign will be a lost cause.
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CORRECTION: This article mistakenly identifies Steve Kerrigan as Reilly's former chief of staff. Kerrigan is Reilly's current chief of staff.
On the Web:
Adam Reilly's Talking Politics blog: http://www.thephoenix.com/talkingpolitics
Tom Reilly: http://www.tomreilly.org/
Massachusetts Attorney General: http://www.ago.state.ma.us/
Deval Patrick: http://www.devalpatrick.com/
Kerry Healey: http://www.healeycommittee.com/
E-mail the author:
Adam Reilly: areilly@phx.com
Topics:
Talking Politics
, Deval Patrick, Marie St. Fleur, Marie St. Fleur, More 
, Deval Patrick, Marie St. Fleur, Marie St. Fleur, Marty Meehan, Marty Meehan, Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce Inc., Steve Grossman, Barbara Grossman, Wayne Budd, Wayne Budd, Less 
