Endorsements Flood in at Finish

Well, I did not see that coming.  I went to a Patriots-game party, stayed out late and then went to bed without checking my e-mail for the first time in three months, thereby missing the announcement that President Bill Clinton is urging Bay Staters to vote for Coakley.  Wow!  Listen to the audio of his recorded phone call here. 

Barrier-breaker Gloria Steinem endorsed Coakley, but I was more touched by the endorsement by another barrier-breaker, as described by Striker57 on Blue Mass Group:

In 1970, Deb Gilcoine, a 17 year old single Mom, became the first woman apprentice in the Painters Union in New England. Deb went to work as an apprentice bridge painter – one of the toughest and most dangerous (and therefore the best-paying hourly rate) job in the Union. She broke the barrier not only as a painter in a male dominated construction industry – but as a bridge painter in the most macho part of the industry… Friday night at the Elks Club in Quincy, Deb Gilcoine (who broke a barrier in 1970) stood with Martha Coakley and offered her support as Martha works to break a barrier in 2009 as the first woman elected to the U.S. Senate in Massachusetts.

Another barrier beaker to endorse Coakley was Lt. General Claudia Kennedy (ret.), the first woman to reach the  rank of three-star-General in the US Army.  She said

Martha Coakley has the leadership and determination to be a US Senator of great distinction.  I’m endorsing Martha because I share her deep and abiding commitment to public service and to making our nation safer and more prosperous for everyone.