Announcing last month that he was withdrawing his bid for the Democratic nomination for Massachusetts governor, former Democratic National Committee Chairman and Brandeis Trustee Steve Grossman left a race of still many contenders, among them former Secretary of Labor and Brandeis Professor Robert Reich (HS). With the Sept. 17 primary approaching, Reich's campaign is in full swing with appearances in Lexington, Fall River, New Bedford, Beverly and Haverhill expected this week. Grossman's decision to withdraw was motivated by poll results that suggested he was lagging behind, despite an appearance with President Bill Clinton that many viewed as an unspoken endorsement of the Massachusetts businessman, an action that ruffled Reich supporters' feathers and revived gossip about tension between Clinton and his former labor secretary.

"As I said when I withdrew from the race, my campaign has been about the issues and values that I've cared about throughout my life: social and economic justice and building coalitions in our increasingly multiethnic, multicultural, multiracial society," Grossman said in a statement in July.

He will continue to work for the Democratic Coordinated Campaign for Massachusetts, heading efforts to defeat the Republicans this fall. He has not endorsed any candidate.

"(Grossman) has been a distinguished leader in the Democratic Party both in Massachusetts and nationally. His withdrawal from the gubernatorial campaign was made with grace and dignity," Reich said in a statement on July 12. "Steve raised important issues throughout the course of the campaign and has greatly contributed to the ultimate Democratic victory in November."

According to one poll, conducted by a Washington firm in mid-July, Democratic frontrunner State Treasurer Shannon O'Brien had 31 percent of the votes, with Democrats State Senate President Tom Birmingham receiving 19 percent and Reich garnering 15 percent. Democratic candidate Warren Tolman was estimated at 4 percent. Grossman withdrew before the poll was complete.

Reich, who like Grossman sought a reputation as the "non-political" politician, has spent the summer touring Massachusetts in anticipation of the primary that will decide once and for all the 2002 Democratic nominee for Massachusetts governor and has gained the endorsement of various Latino organizations as well as OutSommerville, a Lesbian-Gay-Bisexual-Transsexual (LGBT) advocacy group. And, while in July Democratic candidates agreed Grossman's withdrawal would be beneficial to their respective campaigns, four candidates still vying for one nomination by the Democratic Party means that each candidate is seeking to distinguish him or herself from the pack - a group that some analysts say is politically homogenous as it is.

All four remaining Democratic candidates, in addition to Republican nominee Mitt Romney and Green nominee Jill Klein, say they are in favor of civil unions and the right afforded thereto for same-sex couples, with Reich and Klein advocating the extension of "marriage" to include same-sex couples. While the campaign site of Libretarian Carla Howell addresses largely different issues, the other six candidates address social issues with little variance: Mostly pro-gun control, anti-death penalty, pro-minimum wage.

Grossman and Reich, often compared to each other, both have close ties to former President Bill Clinton, and the Boston Globe reported last week that Reich is likely gaining the support of many Jewish voters whose support analysts once allocated to Grossman. Besides their ties to Brandeis and that they were both Rhodes Scholars (along with Birmingham), neither has ever run for political office.

"On one hand, (Grossman and Reich) shared the same base of Jewish voters, suburban voters, older, Democratic intellectuals, and progressive voters, so with Steve out Reich could gain a lot of those, more so than O'Brien," Jonathan Sclarsic '03, who helped organize student effort for Grossman's campaign, said. "On the other hand there are a lot of Steve loyalists who are upset at Reich for entering the race so late and destroying Steve's candidacy, and they will be with O'Brien or Warren Tolman."

"Overall, I imagine Reich gained a little ground with Steve's departure. It also allows Reich to concentrate on defeating Shannon O'Brien and not having to deal with any attacks Steve Grossman may have made," Sclarsic added. "However, the same goes for Shannon."

Read the Justice in upcoming weeks for profiles on the candidates, information about what Brandeis students have been contributing to campaigns and all you need to know about this fall's Massachusetts elections.