How tarnished is Hillman--and Healey?

MASSACHUSETTS DEMOCRATIC PARTY'S STATEMENT ON REED HILLMAN'S EFFORTS TO EXCUSE A REPEAT DRUNK DRIVER

"Reed Hillman's efforts to pardon a repeat drunk driver are nothing short of hypocritical," said Massachusetts Democratic Party Spokeswoman Cyndi Roy. "Clearly, Mr. Tough on Crime can talk the talk, but when it comes down to it, the rules simply don't apply to his friends and campaign donors."

If there is anyone who should understand the danger and gravity of even one drunken driving offense, it would be Mr. Hillman. Clearly, this should prompt Kerry Healey to reconsider her choice for lieutenant governor.

The bad news for Kerry Healey, Hillman's would-be boss, is that she can't ride her drunk-driving high horse anymore. Other than her success pushing Melanie's Bill through, Healey doesn't have much to brag about. But now, following this Hillman twist, any Healey references to said bill will invite snickering references to her running mate.*

The good news--so far, at least--is that the Healey camp is managing this effectively. Hillman weighed in in today's piece by Boston Herald reporter Dave Wedge, who deserves credit for breaking this story. But since then, there's been nary a peep out of Merrimac Street. Quite a contrast with the way the Reilly campaign handled things back in January.

*NOTE: Since I initially thought Hillman's baggage would only make it hard for Healey to hammer Reilly, this sentence initially read: "Which means that, if Tom Reilly wins the Democratic nomination, Healey's just lost a potentially valuable line of attack." Upon further reflection, though, I realized the problem is a whole lot bigger for the LG.