Gus Bickford

DENVER - With the Democratic National Convention coming to a close Thursday night and speculation surrounding when presumptive nominee John McCain will announce his running mate, several members of the Massachusetts delegation panned former Gov. Mitt  Romney (R-Belmont) as a possible vice presidential candidate.

U.S. Rep. John Tierney (D-Salem) questioned Romney's leadership abilities. "I don't think Mitt Romney would be a good national leader," he said.

Tierney characterized Romney's tenure in the Statehouse as a "failed governorship." When voters take a closer look at Romney's economic policies and record when he was governor, Tierney said, Romney  won't boost McCain's economic credentials - a reason often given for putting him on the ticket.

A recent survey of Massachusetts superdelegates that endorsed U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton in the Democratic presidential primary found that several plan to vote for Clinton on the first ballot at the Democratic National Convention next week.

Following news that Clinton's name will be placed in nomination at the convention next week in Devner, PolitickerMA.com contacted every Massachusetts superdelegate that endorsed Clinton in the primary this week and asked if he or she planned to vote for the New York senator on the first ballot for nomination next week.

According to Politico's tally of superdelegates, 11 in Massachusetts delegation endorsed Clinton in the primary.

U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Worcester) told PolitickerMA.com that he plans to cast his vote for Clinton if her name is on the ballot.

"Yes, I would," McGovern said. "If her name is placed in nomination I'll probably cast my vote for her."