Elizabeth Warren, Jay Gonzalez rally Democrats at Worcester State University

Sept. 17--WORCESTER -- Roberta Goldman of Shrewsbury, a teacher and Democratic State Committee member, said she came to an organizing meeting Sunday for Democratic nominee for governor Jay Gonzalez and U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren, "to get a new sense of inspiration to get us through the last phase of this campaign."

The meeting, hosted by the Massachusetts Democratic Party and held at Worcester State University's May Street Auditorium, was more of a pep rally to pump up volunteers and get out the vote.

"I'm thrilled that I came," Ms. Goldman said.

The crowd gave Mr. Gonzalez and Ms. Warren a rock star welcome. Many waved blue "Persist" signs, referring to Ms. Warren being silenced by U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Kentucky Republican, during the debate over Attorney General Jeff Session's nomination last year.

"If we've learned anything from 2016, it's that we can't take anything for granted," said Kasey Poulin, Democratic regional field director for Central Massachusetts.

She said volunteers needed to target the 10,000 registered voters in Worcester who usually don't vote in midterm elections.

"With Trump in the White House, there is simply too much at stake," said state Senate President emerita Harriette L. Chandler of Worcester, who introduced Mr. Gonzalez.

Both headline candidates called for policy reforms that would benefit working families, including improving quality and funding of education, more affordable health care, improving transportation infrastructure, "sensible" gun control, acting to address climate change, supporting unions, and standing with diverse populations, including women, people of color, LGBTQ communities and immigrants.

Ms. Warren, who is running against Republican Geoff Diehl, said now was the time to get everybody involved, up and down the ticket, to push the Democrats' affirmative work for people and to act as a check on President Donald Trump.

Mr. Gonzalez, who served as secretary of administration and finance under Gov. Deval Patrick and previously led a health plan serving people with low income, said with all the drama and focus on the Trump administration, "We have paid less attention to our leadership here at home. And we have lowered our expectations."

In a veiled reference to his opponent Gov. Charlie Baker's high popularity in the state, Mr. Gonzalez said, "Not being crazy seems pretty good. But it's not good enough."

He called himself "a little guy who believed," and said the state needed a governor with greater vision, who "sees the way the world should be and takes us there."

Mr. Gonzalez promised, among his goals, high quality child care and preschool for all by the end of his first term; a "great public education system" accessible by every child; a transportation system throughout the state "that people can actually depend on;" a more aggressive approach to the opioid epidemic; and a single-payer health care system.

"We need to get rid of health insurance companies, and when I'm governor, we will," he said.

In an interview afterward, Mr. Gonzalez said he would fire Keolis Commuter Services, the private contractor for commuter rail, which he said was the worst operating commuter rail system in the country. He said transportation is the number one issue he hears about from voters.

"They've done a terrible job," he said. "I fundamentally disagree with privatizing core public services like this," where the responsibility for delivering the service is separated from elected officials who should be held accountable.

On gun control, Mr. Gonzalez said that hunters and other responsible gun owners wouldn't have their guns taken away. But he would ban the manufacture of the type of semi-automatic assault-style weapon used in the Parkland, Florida, school shooting, which was manufactured by Smith & Wesson, headquartered in Springfield. It is already illegal to purchase that type of gun in the state.

Mr. Gonzalez also called out Mr. Baker, in his speech, for endorsing Mr. Diehl, who was co-chairman of Mr. Trump's Massachusetts campaign. The crowd booed and shouted "No way! Not gonna happen!" as Mr. Gonzalez accused Mr. Diehl of standing with the Trump anti-choice, anti-LGBTQ, anti-immigrant and pro-NRA agenda.

Ms. Warren, who is running for re-election against challenger Mr. Diehl, said the Republicans have been "running a scam on the American people since the day (they) got in office."

She pointed to efforts by the Trump administration and Congress to take away health care coverage that brings $2 billion every year to people in Massachusetts.

Responding to a question from a man in the audience who said a medicine he was prescribed cost more than $7,000, Ms. Warren called for a three-point plan, including allowing Medicare to negotiate drug prices with drug companies, importing approved drugs from Canada and placing a cap on total co-payments for prescription drugs.

"Big Pharma is flooding Washington with money," she said.

"For far too long now, our government has been working only for the wealthy and well-connected," Ms. Warren said. "I didn't go to Washington to duck tough fights. I went to Washington to win tough fights."

She also linked the state transportation issue to action by the Trump administration and Republicans on Capitol Hill, pointing out in an interview that Mr. Trump promised a $1 trillion infrastructure plan, which "turned out to be a big fat zero." Then Republicans "gave away" $1.5 trillion in tax breaks to billionaires and giant corporations, leaving no money for things like transportation, water, communications and power infrastructure.

"Trump and the Republicans say the cupboard is bare. It's one more example of choosing the billionaires over the working people," she said.

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