From today’s Inside Track column by Peter Freyne (emphasis added):
The Future Governor? – Looking to the future this fine wintry afternoon in Vermont, we see the rising gubernatorial candidacy of the man who looks to have the best shot against Jim Douglas next November – Progressive Anthony Pollina.
According to reliable sources, Pollina for Governor campaign operatives have begun taking steps to recruit paid campaign staff and seek office space. Should become visible soon.
Sources say Pollina has been getting good results with his fundraising efforts and encountering plenty of enthusiasm and encouragement.
The recent floating of former Democratic Lt. Gov. Doug Racine’s name was less than a genuine trial balloon. Doug is not interested. Trust me.
Let’s be clear what Freyne is telling people they should trust; his keen political insights and journalistic instincts. That’s it.
Because if he had, you know, actually spoken to Racine, he would’ve heard a different story.
I have. At length. On multiple occasions, and as recently as three days ago. So have many others, including some people of financial and institutional significance within the Vermont left. The kind of people a pol like Racine wouldn’t jerk around.
Trust Doug – he’s interested.
Which begs the question as to why Freyne would put this out there without talking to Racine (or worse – perhaps he has talked with him and is simply dismissing what he was told – ouch) and getting the story straight.
I suspect the answer is in the first part of the excerpt. Freyne has decided that Pollina is the narrative this election. Whether he’s become enraptured with Pollina the way he so famously is with Bernie, or whether it fits into his “Vermont Dems are stupid” theme of late, it’s hard to say. In any event, it’s clear that actual Racine interest in the race would simply make for an inconvenient truth to this narrative.
The problem is, of course, that Freyne is the type of journalist/columnist that doesn’t simply report the news, he makes it, and in putting this out there, he has indeed made a big effect. In dramatically understating Racine’s engagement (and, you gotta then wonder, dramatically overstating Pollina’s (see below)?), he’s put Doug in a tough spot. Whereas before, he realistically had most of January in which to make his decision, Freyne’s “trust me” dismissal of his interest means he has to make his decision much sooner, or more people will simply write him off, preferring to “trust” Freyne’s sage wisdom. They’ll just move on.
(UPDATE 1: Well, well, well… Pollina’s off and running, it seems, although still not officially, apparently. That timing’s a bit too coincidental. Between the Pollina for Governor ad and Freyne’s timely assistance undercutting Racine, Team Pollina is likely trying to “shock and awe” him out of the race. Playing chicken, after a fashion. It’s a good strategy and may very well work.
Sigh. I was starting to imagine, you know, actually winning this time. Silly me.)
(UPDATE 2: I am reminded that this is not the first time Mr. Freyne has played a bit, ah – loose with the corroboration when it comes to promoting Mr. Pollina’s candidacy…)
(UPDATE 3: Holy crap! Now I’m told that this from a mid-November Inside Track (focused again on Pollina):
Word this week is that former Ambassador Peter Galbraith, who had been mentioned as a possibility, now has ruled it out.
… was also “reported” without actually checking with Galbraith, who – I’m told from someone at the Democratic Party who spoke with him shortly afterwards – had not ruled it out at all. WTF?!?! I’ll try to corroborate with Galbraith today or tomorrow.)