Early last week my colleague Dick wrote a very informative piece “What’s a caucus?” It seemed that some people were being asked to be a “caucus coordinator.” Not sure what a caucus was let alone a coordinator for one, they asked the right person for an explanation. Thinking about running for delegate? See his December 14, 2009 post for some enlightenment.

Caucuses have rules and regulations, a format, a time frame and serve an operational function for the Party. Running parallel to the operational logistics of a caucus are the propective candidates’ operations. The February 2010 local caucuses will select delegates to the 2010 Democratic “Nominating” Convention scheduled for June 4-5 at the DCU Center in Worcester. These delegates will vote to allow candidates for state-wide, constitutional offices - who gain the requisite certified signatures - access to the Primary ballot. It’s that “15% rule.” That means candidates for Governor, Lt. Governor, Attorney General, Auditor, Treasurer and Secretary of the Commonwealth need to be in gear or get in gear and line-up enough supporters as delegates to get them to that 15% threshold.

I got a “robo” call today from former State Rep and recently-resigned State Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development Suzanne Bump. She’s looking for my support in her run to replace outgoing Auditor Joe DeNucci. It wasn’t a very personal approach. She’s got a big gap to fill to catch the other candidate for this nomination - former State Rep, Senator and current Worcester County Sheriff Guy Glodis. Glodis has been carefully and respectfully laying the groundwork for this run for quite some time. Other possible candidates mentioned in the media - Senators Marc Pacheco and Mark Montigney - haven’t moved out of the starting gate.

Conventional wisdom has AG Martha Coakley an odds-on favorite to win the US Senate race on January 19th to fill the seat now held by Paul Kirk. The dominos will fall and very quickly when she wins. By February 10th the flag will drop and the nominations papers for all offices will be ready for the candidates and their campaigns. Even if there is someone appointed as AG by the combined Legislature - there will still be a primary race and an election to fill the seat for a full term. Some possible candidates may focus on the race rather than an appointment. Names mentioned include House Ways & Means Chair Charlie Murphy (who’d like the interim appointment) and State Senator Steve Baddour. Both have strong Greater Lowell/Merrimack Valley roots and ties. Baddour of Methuen represents the First Essex District(Haverhill, Newburyport, Amesbury, Merrimac, Methuen, Salisbury and most of N. Andover) while Murphy of Burlington represents the 21st Middlesex district (Bedford, Burlington and one precinct in Wilmington).

No Democrat has emerged to challenge the Governor/Lt. Governor. There is no incumbent running for Auditor or Treasurer - but there are candidates. Glodis and Bump for Auditor as I mentioned and businessman and party activist Steve Grossman and Norfolk County Treasurer John Connolly for State Treasurer. The rumors about Bill Galvin’s future plans are rampant but I expect him to run for re-election as SOC! The agenda for the 2010 Democratic Convention will be full and probably require a Friday night session as well as a full day of work on Saturday.

More on the actual caucus dates and delegate allotment by Greater Lowell/Merrimack Valley cities and towns later. Let me know if you want more instructions about becoming a delegate. You can run unaligned with any candidate or aligned with one or more candidates. It’s your call. Stay tuned.