By Patrick Donges
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wamc/local-wamc-982988.mp3
Pittsfield, MA – Last week, Harvard law professor and former Obama administration official Elizabeth Warren launched her exploratory committee in consideration of joining those Democrats already lined up to face Senator Scott Brown with a "listening tour" across the state.
Warren reportedly visited the homes and offices of Democratic supporters in several municipalities, including Framingham, Brockton, and Pittsfield, where residents gathered Friday afternoon to hear her speak. Here's state democratic committee member and "Berkshire Brigades" county democratic committee chair Lee Harrison speaking before Warren's arrival.
"We're hoping she'll run, we're pretty sure she's going to run, so that's why I'm wearing a button today that says Run Elizabeth, Run.' We believe truly that while we have great candidates, she by far is best positioned to beat Scott Brown."
While Harrison openly admired Warren, the potential candidate herself shied away from the microphone, asking that her statements not be recorded by WAMC despite the presence of local print and web journalists at the event, held at a local law office.
It wasn't the first time members of the news media had been asked not to report at one of her tour stops; WAMC was told earlier Friday that an event at a residence in Agawam would be closed to the press, and on Wednesday Warren's handlers asked columnist Jack Spillane of the New Bedford Standard-Times and a photographer from the paper to leave an event in New Bedford.
Spillane wrote about leaving the event in a column and a blog post in which he described Warren as, "fragile." Republicans have also noted reports of her reticence; Tim Buckley is communications manager for Mass GOP.
"It's not surprising to see Warren slam the door on press. She's more of a creation of Washington D.C. than anything else."
Buckley compared Warren's tour to the "jobs tour" Scott Brown has been on during the month long congressional recess, speaking to chambers of commerce and business owners across the state; he spoke before the Pittsfield Chamber of Commerce at an open press event August 10. He also noted that Brown fielded a question from an organizer with progressive group MoveOn.org at an event in Dorchester.
"He's been willing to stand in front of voters of all political stripes and take all comers."
While criticized by opponents, Warren's tact of avoidance may not be a bad move this early in the game; Shane D'Aprile is the editor of Campaigns & Elections magazine.
"Obviously she has not officially made the decision on whether or not she's going to run, and her potential candidacy has sparked such national attention that I think that's only an even better reason for her to sort of avoid the spotlight as much as she can at least in terms of talking to the press corps during this exploratory phase."
D'Aprile said lax publicity could be desired by Warren for two reasons; first as not to stir Brown's conservative base before she has even announced, and second to mobilize her own base, hopefully generating enough early excitement that could translate into volunteer hours and donor dollars; here's D'Aprile.
"She has certainly got to convince Democrats not just in Massachusetts but nationwide that her campaign would be a worthwhile investment. She's going to have to rely on support from progressives nationwide."
"There are a number of progressive groups that have been really hyping her potential, already trying to raise some money for her. Part of what she's doing right now is making sure that she's in touch with that base, making sure that she's in touch with those groups."
A political operative close to Warren told WAMC Monday that in planning last week's tour, of which many stops were organized in less than 24 hours, hosts were told the events would be closed to the press, but that didn't prevent others who were invited from telling reporters where and when the events would be held.
When asked for comment Monday, Kyle Sullivan of Boston-based Northwind Strategies, which is working with Warren in the lead up to her expected entrance into the race, sent this statement via email.
"Elizabeth has spent the last week listening to people from across the Commonwealth as she considers a campaign for the U.S. Senate. She will be continuing this conversation in the coming weeks with a final decision on her future plans expected after Labor Day."