Michael Capuano

WORCESTER - If a Massachusetts U.S. Senate seat were to open up, Worcester County Sherriff Guy Glodis said Thursday that he would expect, and look forward to, a crowded and spirited Democratic field running for the seat.

Glodis, who is said to have one of the largest political machines in the state, told PolitickerMA.com at the Democratic State Committee meeting Thursday that it is "very premature" to speculate about who would run. But in the event the U.S. Sen. John Kerry (D-Boston) were to be tapped for a post in the Obama, Glodis said there are some pols that would already be serious contenders.

"I think you have [Attorney General] Martha Coakley, who would be a very strong candidate," Glodis said. "[Congressman] Steve Lynch has represented labor and has a great base in Suffolk. And some people say [Congressman Michael] Capuano and [Congressman Bill] Delahunt. I think all four of them would automatically be considered frontrunners."

CAMBRIDGE -- When asked what he thinks of Republican presidential nominee John McCain and other Republicans blaming Barney Frank for the country's current economic problems, Congressman Michael Capuano could only laugh.

"I absolutely think it's hilarious that it's apparently his personal fault that the entire world economy is in the toilet," Capuano, a Somerville Democrat, told PolitickerMA.com. "I wish that Barney was that powerful and that influential because the world would be better off if he were."

In the final weeks of campaign, McCain and other Republicans have often blamed Frank, the chairman of the House Financial Services, for the failures Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the embattled mortgage lenders. McCain has also attempted to use Frank to warn voters of the dangers of one-party rule in Washington if Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama is elected.

Congressman Michael Capuano (D-Somerville)

CAMBRIDGE - Congressman Michael Capuano, a Democrat who is frequently named by political insiders as having high political aspirations, declined to rule out a run for the U.S. Senate should the opportunity present itself.

In an interview with PolitickerMA.com this week, Capuano, of Somerville, said he wouldn't rule out running but carefully qualified his answers by saying that he wasn't focused on the possibility.

"Who in their right mind would ever close the door on anything," Capuano said. "Anybody that tells you they have closed the door is either lying to you or lying to themselves. At the same time, that's not the same thing as saying I've got it all planned out, because anybody that's done that is crazy too. The answer is somewhere in the middle."

Congressmen Michael Capuano and Stephen Lynch, two Democrats who voted on opposite sides of the $700 billion Wall Street bailout plan on Monday, agreed Tuesday night that the financial rescue plan is resting in a precarious position.

U.S. Rep. Michael Capuano (D-Somerville)In their appearance on WGBH's "Greater Boston," Capuano, who voted for the measure, said changing the legislation now so it will pass will be very difficult.

"If we change it to get Steve's vote, we will either lose votes in the Senate or lose the president's support. If they change it another way, they might lose my support," Capuano, of Somerville, said. "So this bill is teetering on the brink."

Lynch, of Boston, agreed and said that part of the reason he and some others opposed the bill is that is isn't guaranteed to solve the current financial crisis.

The Massachusetts Republican Party said Monday that Gov. Deval Patrick's appearing on state Sen. Dianne Wilkerson's auto-calls shows that he is not reformer he claimed to be.

The state GOP was responding to PolitickerMA.com's story Monday. In that story, several analysts told PolitickerMA.com that the calls are not politically risky for the Bay State officials insofar as Sonia Chang-Diaz would not hold a grudge against them if she were elected.

Taking a different angle, Barney Keller, spokesman for the Massachusetts GOP, said Patrick's endorsement of Wilkerson, who has committed several ethical transgressions, shows he is unwilling to take on the status quo on Beacon Hill.

With news last week that Gov. Deval Patrick, Congressman Michael Capuano and Boston Mayor Tom Menino will appear in auto-calls that Dianne Wilkerson will use on Election Day Tuesday, PolitickerMA.com asked local analysts if backing the incumbent senator could pose any political risks for the officials.

State Sen. Dianne Wilkerson (D-Boston)The answer was nearly a unanimous "no."

However, some also noted that despite being some of the state's biggest political names, they doubt whether the calls will have any impact on voters and, consequently, her race against Sonia Chang-Diaz in Suffolk County's 2nd District.

Since it is a Democratic Primary, Patrick (D-Milton), Capuano (D-Somerville) and Menino (D) have little to risk by backing the sitting senator.

"It's not risky," said Dan Payne, a Boston Democratic strategist. "They all belong to the incumbent party. Dianne is an incumbent state senator with more lives than Bill Clinton. If she wins, she'll never forget them. If Chang-Diaz wins, she'll forgive them."

The Massachusetts Republican Party criticized Democratic Gov. Deval Patrick late Friday for recording auto-calls for state Sen. Dianne Wilkerson. 

"It's no surprise that Deval Patrick is recording a call on behalf of an ethically challenged lawmaker considering his own ethically challenged history of making phone calls on behalf of subprime lender Ameriquest," said Barney Keller, the party's spokesman. 

The governor's office declined to comment on Keller's remarks.

UPDATED: Facing a steep financial disadvantage at the end of the pre-primary filing period, state Sen. Dianne Wilkerson has gone on a fundraising spree, raising $40,000 since Sept. 1.

On Thursday, a source within the Wilkerson campaign told the State House News Service of the fundraising kick since the filing deadline. Dan Cence, a spokesman for the Wilkerson campaign, confirmed the report to PolitickerMA.com.

State Sen. Dianne Wilkerson's re-election campaign is planning an extensive get-out-the-vote operation for next Tuesday's Election Day that will include auto-calls featuring some of the state's biggest politicians, her campaign told PolitickerMA.com Thursday.

State Sen. Dianne Wilkerson (D-Boston)Dan Cence, a spokesman for Wilkerson (D-Boston), said the campaign's auto-calls will feature Gov. Deval Patrick (D-Milton), Boston Mayer Tom Menino (D), Congressman Michael Capuano (D-Somerville), and other prominent Bay State pols. The politicians will tell voters of their endorsement of Wilkerson and encourage them to head to the polls.

Wilkerson is again facing a challenge from Sonia Chang-Diaz (D-Jamaica Plain) in this year's primary race. The two squared off in 2006 as well.

U.S. Rep. Michael Capuano (D-Somerville)U.S. Rep. Michael Capuano (D-Somerville) reported $890,934.73 cash on hand after bringing in a second quarter fundraising haul of $158,509.01 in total contributions, according to the Federal Election Commission.

Capuano has raised $616,698.46 total contributions so far this election cycle

The FEC report shows a fundraising uptick for Capuano since 2006. At the midway point of that year he had $572,766.76 cash on hand and had received $558,034.28 in contributions for the cycle. In the second quarter of that year, however, he received $157,430.00 in contributions - a figure almost identical to this quarter's take.