Boston's annual Labor Day Breakfast drew a packed house of union workers and dozens of state and local candidates who know what Marty Walsh, a former union leader, proved last fall.
NECN asked Walsh, can a labor union still make or break a candidate? His response: "Absolutely, I mean, I'm the mayor of Boston and they certainly helped me... What labor has to do is speak in one voice, that's the key."
This year's labor crowd is divided, particularly in the race for governor.
Attorney General Martha Coakley and Treasurer Steve Grossman are splitting much of the union support, as evidenced by signs and stickers around the room, which means both will likely have a good amount of help on election day getting supporters out to vote.
Grossman seems more encouraged about his recent surge in the polls and endorsement by the Boston Globe.
After months of trailing Coakley by 30 to 40 points, the gap has closed to 12 points in one recent poll and 22 in another.
"It means a lot because they've said of all the candidates running for governor, Steve's the one who understands what our economic future and our economic destiny is all about," Grossman said.
Politics
Coakley is brushing off the Globe endorsement. "Look, I have been working since last September, knocking on doors, talking to folks in their living rooms, talking to folks in their dining rooms. The only endorsement I'm worried about frankly is the one on September 9," she said.
Coakley has been the main target of Grossman and the third candidate, Don Berwick, who have sharpened their attacks in recent weeks.
Grossman says he is the best candidate to take on Republican Charlie Baker. "Charlie Baker is going to be a tough tough opponent for the Democratic nominee and he'll come at us and say, I'm the job's creator and I know how to run government," he said. "If there are two things I'm not vulnerable on, it's job creation and how to run state government."
Baker, the only candidate to support a single payer health care system and to oppose casinos, has his own rallying cry: "I'm the candidate of change and I think people are going to respond to that."
As for Coakley, she says, "I believe, this race will be won on ideas and organizing. It is really about making sure you have a really good message."
