In the days since September 11, Attorney General Tom Reilly has become a popular fellow. First, he teamed up with Governor Jane Swift in overruling Secretary of State William Galvin’s attempt to put off the day’s scheduled primary in the special election to replace Joe Moakley. Then he made a high-profile warning to Massachusetts residents to be sure that charities seeking donations in the wake of the disaster were legitimate. Standing side by side, Reilly and Mayor Tom Menino sought to allay public fears when an FBI warning of possible terrorist attacks on September 22 all but shut down the city. Finally, Senate president Tom Birmingham made sure Reilly was on hand when he introduced his anti-terrorism legislation on October 10.

All this visibility is giving rise to talk among the chattering classes: could Reilly be positioning himself to run for higher office? Say, the governor’s office? " No, " says Reilly spokesman Steve Bilafer. " He’s running for re-election. "

Of course, Reilly’s high profile is the logical extension of his job as the state’s highest-ranking safety official. Still, some speculate that with security at the forefront of voter concerns, Reilly, a law-and-order pol, might make an ideal candidate for governor.

With so many other candidates already in the race — Senate president Tom Birmingham, Treasurer Shannon O’Brien, Secretary of State William Galvin, businessman and former Democratic National Committee chairman Steve Grossman, and former Watertown state senator Warren Tolman — it might be too late for Reilly to throw in his hat, even if he wanted to.

We’ll keep watching nonetheless.

Issue Date: October 30, 2001