William Weld

Former Gov. Bill Weld said Monday that the national Republican Party is "playing on a smaller field" and that he may have been more inclined to endorse Republican presidential nominee John McCain had he selected fellow former Bay State Gov. Mitt Romney as his running mate.

Weld, who endorsed Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama last week, appeared on MSNBC's Morning Joe Monday morning, shortly after Romney also appeared on the show. Weld endorsed Romney during his presidential run this year and was immediately asked if he thought McCain should have tapped Romney as his running mate.

"Well that would have been a running start," Weld said. "I think what Mitt Romney and Barack Obama have in common, and not too many people would see a common thread there, I think they both process a lot of new information and respond to conditions on the ground."

"Of course the thing I loved about Gov. Romney is he knows so much about the economy," he added.

Is U.S. Sen. John Kerry (D-Boston) a winner or loser this week? It depends on how you look at it. | CLICK HERE

Former Republican Gov. William Weld is set to endorse Democrat Barack Obama for president on Friday, the Associated Press reports.

"Sen. Obama is a once-in-a-lifetime candidate who will transform our politics and restore America's standing in the world," Weld said in a statement Friday. "We need a president who will lead based on our common values and Sen. Obama demonstrates an ability to unite and inspire."

Weld was governor of Massachusetts from 1991 to 1997 and challenged John Kerry for his Senate seat in 1996.

U.S. Sen. John Kerry (D-Boston)

U.S. Sen. John Kerry accused his challenger Jeff Beatty on Wednesday of relying on personal attacks in his campaign and failing to offer any positive policy ideas.

In a post on The Hill's Congress Blog, Kerry particularly criticized Beatty for his debate performance Monday night.

"In a debate that should have honored Massachusetts by addressing the issues that affect us most, my opponent was unable to offer one constructive plan to solve our state's and nation's pressing issues," the Boston Democrat wrote. "No plan for health care. No solution for an ailing economy. No strategy for Iraq. Beatty provided nothing but the empty, hateful rhetoric typical of a candidate incapable of providing answers or solutions."

Kerry also highlighted the debates he held with former Gov. Bill Weld in their 1996 Senate race as an example of how Senate debate should be conducted.

If Gov. Deval Patrick were to leave for Washington, Tim Murray would be the fourth lieutenant governor to assume the corner office for that reason in the last 50 years, as well as the first Democrat.

BLOOMINGTON, Minn. - Christy Mihos defended his criticism of the Republican Party during his 2006 gubernatorial run Thursday, saying Republican governors' administration of the Big Dig "betrayed the people of the commonwealth."

Christy Mihos (I)Mihos, of Yarmouth, was responding to a PolitickerMA.com report earlier Thursday. In that story, several Bay State GOP delegates questioned Mihos' loyalty to the party since he was critical of Republicans during his 2006 gubernatorial campaign as an Independent. 

In an email to PolitickerMA.com, Mihos drew parallels between his criticism of the previous Republican administrations and GOP vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin's efforts in her 2006 run.

"In the state of Alaska, a candidate for governor takes on the corruption of the party in power  - Republicans - and it's a badge of courage," he wrote. "Only in Massachusetts can one do the same exact thing, and take on the same party leaders who showed 'intentional indifference' to the corruption in and around them and it's a major flaw in the candidate by the party."

Ex-Gov. Mitt Romney (R): Getty Images PhotoThe Associated Press reports that one week from today, former Gov. Mitt Romney (R-Belmont) will join other prominent Republicans in taking part in counter-efforts to the Democratic National Committee Convention in Denver, Colorado.

On Tues., Aug. 26, the ex-presidential contender will travel to the Centennial State to try and knock the Democrats off message. Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, who is one of Romney's top rivals to be John McCain's running mate, will speak in Denver that day, too.

The move is expanding on a tactic the Republicans used during the 2004 DNC Convention held in Boston.

To honor his impressive work on behalf of military servicemen, the National Guard will present state Rep. Anthony Verga with its most prestigious award next month.

The Charles Dick Medal of Merit was established in 1988 in honor of Major General Charles Dick, a former U.S. Senator and Representative who authored the legislation that created the National Guard. The award serves as a tribute to elected officials for their dedication to and support of the National Guard over an extended period of time.

When asked what the award means to him, Verga (D-Gloucester) was at a loss for words.

"It's a very humbling experience when you are nominated for something of this magnitude," Verga told PolitickerMA.com. "It's a very humbling experience."

A 2006 Election Data  Services report showed that the 2010 census is likely to reduce the Massachusetts delegation from ten to nine.

The last time Massachusetts lost a seat was in 1992 in a controversial move that counted Federal workers living overseas. The Commonwealth challenged the count in federal court, winning on the district level but seeing that decision overturned by the Supreme Court in Franklin v. Massachusetts.