New GOP HQ brings the battle to Boston

Across Tremont Street from where Barack Obama supporters rallied, supporters of John McCain celebrated the newly opened McCain Boston Headquarters yesterday.
Foto: NICOLAUS CZARNECKI/METRO

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

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.