Big Week For Mass. Democrats

Sarah Birnbaum is WGBH Radio’s political and State House reporter. When she’s not on the campaign trail, she loves telling stories about health care and education policy, and all the issues that come through the Legislature that matter to voters.

June 09, 2014

Updated January 10, 2016

What happens on Saturday at the Massachusetts Democratic Convention in Worcester will affect the outcome of the Governor's race.

Though Attorney General Martha Coakley has continued to enjoy a big lead in the polls against rival Democrats, her campaign is lowering expectations for Saturday's convention results.

UMass Boston political science professor Mo Cunningham said Steve Grossman will likely win the convention endorsement despite Coakley's early poll numbers. Grossman is a former Democratic National Committee chairman and has deep ties within the party and he leads in fundraising.

Cunningham said the convention will be most relevant for Joe Avellone, Don Berwick and Juliette Kayyem, the three lesser known candidates for Governor.

“One or two or maybe three of them won’t be making the ballot in September,” he said.

Jim Spencer, a political strategist, says he’ll watch for any maneuvering on the convention floor.

“Is Grossman in a strong enough position that he does a quiet thing of giving delegates away to Juliette Kayyem, and asks some of his supporters to vote for Juliette to put another woman on the ballot?”