As the Nov. 7 gubernatorial election approaches, Republican candidate and current Lieutenant Governor Kerry Healey has taken great care to lay out a very specific agenda for the state.
At the polling booths though, it is possible that voters will treat the election as an evaluation of the administration of current Governor Mitt Romney rather than Healey's individual plans, according to many election observers.
"This election is a referendum on the Romney/Healey administration, and they are about to receive a resounding repudiation," U.S. Representative Ed Markey (D-Mass.) told the Daily.
He said that the consistent lead that Democratic candidate Deval Patrick has maintained in the polls is the result of discontent with Romney's policies.
"A big part of that huge mandate that Deval is about to receive is a repudiation of the Romney message," he said.
Tufts sophomore and Healey campaign volunteer Daniel Hartman agreed that Patrick's success in the polls is a reaction by voters to the current administration. "If the polls are correct ... I believe it is a referendum on Romney," he said.
Still, there is disagreement about the fairness of this voter evaluation.
According to Democratic Somerville Mayor Joe Curtatone, it is only appropriate that Healey be judged based on the record of the Romney administration.
"She was part of his administration, and they own the record that they have, good or bad," he told the Daily.
Kayt Norris, the president of the Tufts Democrats, agreed. "I think it's only fair that if she wants to run on the good the things in this administration, then it's only fair that she also take some of the blame for some of the mistakes of this administration," she said.
According to Hartman, though, there are several important differences between Romney and Healey. Unlike her current boss, she is pro-choice, pro-civil unions and pro-stem cell research. Her problem has been in convincing the voters, Hartman said.
"If she can ... show that she is not Mitt Romney within the next week, I think she has a chance."
This might prove particularly difficult because Lieutenant Governors are often overshadowed in administrations, according to Republican state Senator Scott Brown.
Although he said that she will receive some credit for what he perceives as the successes of the administration, she has still not been in the public eye very much.
"In some [ways], it's hurt her because she hasn't been able to be in the forefront of many issues, even though she's working hard on them," he told the Daily.
Norris said given Romney's managing style, this has become particularly problematic for Healey.
"Because Romney hardly let her do anything has Lieutenant Governor, she as very few accomplishments to run on."
Norris cited a recent commercial that features Healey and Romney. "The whole ad Kerry Healey is walking behind Mitt Romney and its just very exemplary of how the Romney/Healey administration was," she said.
Pressure to separate herself became particularly acute when Healey was asked during an Oct. 19th debate to criticize Romney for making jokes about Massachusetts in other states. When pressed, she refused to give a definitive rebuke.
Hartman said that he understands her reasoning, but the failure to actively chastise Romney in the situation had a negative effect.
"I think that definitely hurt her," he said. "I think the people would have wanted her to criticize Mitt Romney."
Even so, many Democratic legislators have noticed a difference between Romney and Healey.
"The Governor himself was not very accessible. Kerry Healey as Lieutenant Governor was very accessible," Curtatone said. "I'd give her an A-plus in terms of communication."
Still, according to state Senator Pat Jehlen, who represents both Somerville and Medford, communication does not necessarily translate into agreement.
"Her job description has been to communicate with local communities," she told the Daily.
"If she doesn't actually represent and try to do the things they ask her for, then it's not helpful."
Despite recognition by legislators, state Senator Michael Knapik said that Healey is not receiving enough credit for her role in helping cities and towns.
"Kerry Healey went out into the eye of the storm in 2003 and 2004 meeting with all the officials who were furious with Mitt Romney and Kerry Healey and the legislature," he told the Daily. The result, he said, was two very helpful municipal relief bills.
According to Hartman, the best way for Healey to emphasize these successes is for her to continue the current lack of reliance on Romney in campaigning.
"[Romney is] letting Kerry Healey show that she's her own leader, and she doesn't need him right now," he said.
At the same time, Hartman said that she shouldn't forget that without Romney, she might not even be a candidate.
The former criminologist and head of the Massachusetts State Republican Committee was only really launched into the Massachusetts inner circle after Romney supported her as his lieutenant governor.
"[Healey] wouldn't be running for governor today if it wasn't for Mitt Romney," he said.
