Governor Deval Patrick said in his book proposal that he was able to "fill the Boston Common recently with ten thousand people," a boast intended to prove to publishers that his message of hope and optimism generates enthusiasm and will translate into sales.But Patrick left out a key fact about the Oct. 23 Boston Common rally.
It was held to celebrate Patrick's endorsement of Senator Barack Obama, the Democratic presidential candidate, who stood by Patrick's side at the event. Obama has filled sports stadiums around the country and caused onlookers to faint during his speeches, and he was almost certainly the bigger draw on the Common that day.
Critics suggested yesterday that Patrick's assertion was like an opening band saying it filled Madison Square Garden without mentioning that the Rolling Stones later took the stage.
"That's a bit of a hyperbole, I think," said Senate minority leader Richard R. Tisei. "People who went to that event were more interested in hearing Obama than hearing the governor."
In the proposal for the book, to be called "A Reason To Believe: Lessons on Leadership and Life," Patrick tried to demonstrate to publishers that he could be a big draw and sell at least 150,000 hardcover copies.
"I was able to fill the Boston Common recently with 10,000 people eager to hear my dreams for the future," Patrick wrote toward the end of the proposal. "I believe that I can partner with my publisher to develop widely followed book signing events that will generate the sorts of crowds at readings or lines at book signings that translate into a book's ascent to the top of bestseller lists."
Obama's campaign said the October rally drew 9,500 people to the Common. Patrick did get rave reviews for his speech, and his campaign network helped promote and draw people to the event. A 2:23-minute clip posted on Obama's site shows Patrick speaking to a large crowd.
Two spokesmen in Patrick's administration confirmed this week that Patrick was referring to the Obama rally, but they declined to comment. To bolster their case that Patrick generated the crowd, Patrick's aides yesterday distributed a blog post on the website of MSNBC with the headline, "Patrick Endorses Obama, Steals the Show."
The State Republican Party pounced yesterday on his assertion that he drew 10,000 to the Boston Common for an event at which Obama was speaking."Is this book fiction or nonfiction?" said Barney Keller, spokesman for the Massachusetts Republican Party. "Governor Patrick couldn't get 81 legislators to vote for his casinos. Why does he think that 10,000 people would come to hear him speak? Next thing you know he'll throw out the first pitch at Fenway and claim 30,000 people came to see him do it."
UPDATE: More from the AP and Globe.
