Sen. Brown rallies supporters in Hyde Square visit

HYDE SQ.—U.S. Sen. Scott Brown drew over 100 supporters–as well as Democratic Party opponents–to the grand opening of the new Republican Party campaign office at 370 Centre St. last night.

The GOP has drawn attention for its decision to open the office in generally liberal Jamaica Plain and in Hyde Square, one of the centers of Boston’s Latino community. While nearly 100 supporters of the Republican incumbent and his Democratic challenger, Elizabeth Warren, rallied outside the office, Brown talked to the Gazette about the quest for the Latino community’s votes.

“I am glad so many Latinos have turned out. I am going after every vote in the Commonwealth, including JP,” Brown said, adding, “I have a universal message, not an ethnic one.”

Gesturing to the local businesses outside the office’s picture window, he said, “These businesses are the fabric of the neighborhood. They need government to step back.”

Brown had praise for JP in general, saying, “I like it because of its energy.”

That energy was on display in the turnout of both supporters and opponents, which Brown campaign officials indicated is unusual for an office opening. Among the notable supporters meeting Brown was Regla Gonzalez, national vice-president for women at the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), which has a JP-based Boston chapter.

While politics was the focus of the event, Brown, a former model, found himself asked about a different aspect of Latino culture by Spanish-language media.

“Senator Brown, you are so good-looking! Have you thought of starring in a telenovela?” a reporter asked Brown, referring to the soap-opera-like serial TV dramas popular in the Spanish-speaking world. Brown, his face blushing bright red, laughed and said, “You are good-looking yourself. Why don’t you star in a telenovela?”

Brown was joined at the event by his wife, the television news reporter Gail Huff.

U.S. Sen. Scott Brown (left) and his wife, Gail Huff (right), are joined by Regla Gonzalez (center), national vice-president for women at the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), at the local Republican Party campaign office opening on Oct. 15. (Photo Courtesy Brown campaign)