So I swung by Government Center this morning to check out the kick-off of Michael Flaherty and Sam Yoon's joint campaign. I missed the start, but still caught some noteworthy details:

1. The turnout seemed low--about 70-80 people, I'd guess, with almost as many media members as campaign supporters/operatives.

2. When Flaherty was asked about his pledge to serve only two terms, his reply went something like this: "The people of Boston have my word--the same way they had the current mayor's word that he would only serve two terms."

Today's Globe editorial on the developing Boston mayor's race concludes thusly:

The pattern [i.e., the difficulty mayoral challengers have raising money and mounting serious challenges] promotes complacency. Voters should combat it by demanding that incumbents--in this case, Menino--submit to multiple debates with opponents.