New GOP HQ brings the battle to Boston

Local Republican leaders get behind McCain as Obama supporters rally

 

Barack Obama campaign volunteer William Spring, right, joins several dozen Obama supporters who rallied outside the John McCain Boston Headquarters. Foto: NICOLAUS CZARNECKI/METRO

 

 With the Democrats and Republicans trading blows in Denver during the Democratic National Convention, the Boston Common served as the parties’ local battleground of sorts yesterday afternoon, as the state GOP opened a new headquarters on Tremont Street while Obama supporters staged a rally outside.

Local Republican leaders, including former Gov. Paul Cellucci, helped mark the opening of what they called a new “victory” headquarters, and they took turns encouraging a campaign of continued outreach to Bay Staters by promoting reasons why John McCain, their presidential candidate, is better fit to lead than Barack Obama.

Cellucci cited McCain’s long political career and criticized  Obama for being “someone who has never been tested.”

“I think on the issue change and who has the capacity to lead and bring about the change the American people want, we’re going to see very clearly in the next two months that it is Sen. John McCain,” Cellucci said.

The office’s opening comes one day before McCain is rumored to announce his running mate, and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney appears to be among the leading candidates. However, Rep. Paul Loscocco, R-Holliston, who helped organize yesterday’s event, downplayed the connection, citing the need for another local office to handle the party’s growing support base in Massachusetts.

“It will get people excited and encouraged to participate,” Loscocco said.

Meanwhile, holding signs reading “McSame” and “Boston for Barack,” supporters from both the local Obama and Sen. John Kerry camps converged on the Common yesterday prior to the opening of the new opposing party’s office to flex their collective muscle. The group gathered in front of Park Street Station and later moved the rally directly across the street from the Republicans’ new office, registering voters, shouting “Obama” and encouraging passers-by to volunteer.

“We’re nine weeks away from the most important presidential campaign of our lifetime,” said Roger Lau, Kerry’s campaign manager.