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We've always believed that if voters took a long look at the candidates for Secretary, most of them would pick John Bonifaz. He's clearly the better candidate. Our challenge has been that most voters don't think about the race for Secretary, and the press doesn't cover it as much as the exciting race for Governor that voters are paying a lot more attention to. Our task has been to get the word out, to get people interested in researching the candidates, knowing that of those who do, a majority will vote for Bonifaz.

We believe Bill Galvin knows it. Bill Galvin's strategy has been to keep this race out of the news and to keep voters in the dark. His hope is that most voters won't think much about the race for Secretary until they're at the polling place, see the ballot, and vote for the incumbent whose name they probably recognize.

Well, one group of voters who have been paying a lot of attention, and carefully evaluating the candidates all year, are the bloggers. They're independent of the Democratic party, but they're very active and informed. Massachusetts Democratic political bloggers span the spectrum of views in the Massachusetts Democratic party, and earlier this year, several of them were leaning towards Galvin, several towards Bonifaz, and several undecided. And after taking a good long hard look at the candidates, a host of Massachusetts Democratic blogs endorsed John Bonifaz while none have endorsed Galvin as far as we can see.

• Blue Mass Group:
  
  At the outset, each of us expected to back Galvin in this race (though we didn't expect to be terribly vocal about it). But as we've explored the details of the race and seen the way the two candidates are conducting it, we've changed our minds.
• Mass Revolution Now:
  
  I must admit that for quite some time I was ambivilent on the Secretary of State's race in Massachusetts. [...] In the last few weeks my thinking certainly changed. Not only have I realized how important the SoS's office can be if filled by the right person but I have also come to see that John Bonifaz is not only a tremendous candidate with excellent ideas and but also a great person.
• Ryan Adams:
  
  ... the tipping point in my decision to vote for Bonifaz is his internet presence. Not only is Bonifaz using the internet to educate voters and compel them to vote for him, he's pointing voters out to some of the most important issues going on in Massachusetts. The race isn't about Bonifaz, it's about the issues - and whether or not he wins, he's probably done more good for electoral politics outside of office than Galvin has as an elected official.
• Left in Lowell:
  
  I cast my vote today for Secretary of State for John Bonifaz. And, as the editors at BMG said in their endorsement, it’s not just a vote against Galvin - who not only flubbed in his ignore-the-opponent tactic, but who appears to be less attentive to his job than he once was. However, Bonifaz, though many of his ideas are grand and would be hard to implement, has views that are in line with mine - from corporate responsibility to election reform and protecting voting rights. We know that with Bonifaz, we will never have to worry about paperless touchscreen ballots or having known problems with voting in some cities ignored.
• Below Boston:
  
  John Bonifaz for Secretary of State. For using his years of expertise and energy on educating people on the fundamental importance of the office for which he seeks, his clear understanding on the vital role fair and honest elections have on maintaining our democracy,his committment to enfranchising the citizen as voter, his understanding of the role the Secretary of State's office plays in regulating corporate citizenship, and his willingness to debate these issues with his opponent makes him our clear choice for Secretary of State.
• DedhamBlog:
  
  I have to agree with other bloggers out there like David at BlueMassGroup and Ryan over at Ryan's Take that John Bonifaz deserves a debate with Bill Galvin and he has my support on September 19th unless Galvin convinces me otherwise in a debate of some kind. To learn more about John Bonifaz, visit www.JohnBonifaz.com and avoid another 'no information voter' campaign.
• Marry in Massachusetts:
  
  The dictionary defines galvanize as "stimulate" or even "coat with zinc." Given our secretary of state's cowardly inaction and lack of communication, perhaps it would define Galvinize as "avoid citizens" or "disdain the voters."

  It cracks a corner off my infallibility plaque, but I have to reverse my endorsement in this race. After much thought in May, I came down for Bill Galvin over John Bonifaz. In light of the objections I had then to Galvin and particularly his recent behavior, I switch to John Bonifaz.

  I see Bonifaz as by far the brighter and more principled of the two.

• Michael Wilcox, Berkshires for Progressive Change.
• Blog for Boston, the blog of Democracy for America - Boston.
• Off on a Tangent, with a great post about how to vote in a sticker campaign.
• The Progressive Blog:
  
  The Progressive Blog is pleased to announce its first ever, official political endorsement:

  JOHN BONIFAZ
  for SECRETARY of the COMMONWEALTH of MASSACHUSETTS