Gov. Deval Patrick is slated to speak at the Stonewall Democrats National Convention this weekend, according to the Gov. Deval Patrick (D-Milton)organization's web site.

The Stonewall Democrats, a grassroots organization that represents lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual/transgender individuals, is holding its national convention this weekend in Denver, Colo. ahead of the Democratic National Convention.

Patrick (D-Milton) will address the convention Sunday at the Renaissance Hotel. The Massachusetts Democratic Delegation will be staying at the same hotel the following week for the Democratic Party's convention.

Attorney General Martha Coakley plans to vote for U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton if her name is on the first ballot for nomination at the Democratic National Convention, PolitickerMA.com has learned. 

Coakley's (D-Medford) office told PolitickerMA.com Wednesday that it is the attorney general's intent for Clinton's name to be on the first ballot and to vote for her next week in Denver.

The attorney general is a Massachusetts superdelegate and endorsed Clinton in the presidential primary.

U.S. Sens. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) and Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.): Getty Image

UPDATED: 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."

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U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.): Getty Images PhotoState House News Service reports that state House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi (D-North End) will vote for U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) rather than the presumptive Democratic nominee Barack Obama at next week's Democratic National Committee Convention.

DiMasi's vote will come almost a year-to-the-day he endorsed Clinton last summer. The Speaker assisted her important Feb. 5 primary win over Obama, 56 to 41 percent -- one of the largest victories of her campaign at that point.

Obama and Clinton, who fought a drawn-out battle for their party's nomination long after the campaign left Massachusetts, announced last week that her name would also be part of the roll call in Denver.

The group behind this year's ballot question that would prohibit dog racing in Massachusetts said Tuesday that they are planning on coupling a grassroots campaign with television advertising to get their message out.

The Committee to Protect Dogs hopes to convince voters to vote yes on Question 3 on this year's November ballot. Carey Theil, a senior advisor with the group, told PolitickerMA.com that they are already off and running and are planning a multi-faceted campaign.

"We will run an effective free media campaign," he said. "We will do television advertising and a paid media campaign to get our message out."

Ex-Gov. Mitt Romney (R): Getty Images PhotoThe Associated Press reports that one week from today, former Gov. Mitt Romney (R-Belmont) will join other prominent Republicans in taking part in counter-efforts to the Democratic National Committee Convention in Denver, Colorado.

On Tues., Aug. 26, the ex-presidential contender will travel to the Centennial State to try and knock the Democrats off message. Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, who is one of Romney's top rivals to be John McCain's running mate, will speak in Denver that day, too.

The move is expanding on a tactic the Republicans used during the 2004 DNC Convention held in Boston.

Senators Barack Obama (D-Ill.) and John Kerry (D-Boston): Getty Images PhotoAfter several waves of schedule announcements, the Democratic National Committee Convention has finally announced U.S. Sen. John Kerry's speaking slot for next week in Denver.

The 2004 nominee will deliver a prime-time speech on Wednesday night, which has the theme of "Securing America’s Future." Obama's as-of-yet unannounced vice presidential candidate will also be speaking that night, the convention's third. Senators Evan Bayh (D-Ind.) and Joe Biden (D-Del.), who are also widely rumored to be top prospects for Obama's running mates, will speak Wednesday night as well.

Obama is to accept the nomination on Thursday night.

Other speakers on Wednesday night include former President Bill Clinton, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (Nev.), former Senate Leader Tom Daschle (S.D.), Gov. Bill Richardson (N.M.), Senate Select Intelligence Committee Chairman John D. Rockefeller IV (W.V.), Senators Jack Reed (R.I.) and Ken Salazar (Col.), House Majority Whip James E. Clyburn (S.C.), Representatives Patrick Murphy (D-Penn.) and Robert Wexler (D-Flor.), Chicago Mayor Richard Daley and Iraq War veteran Tammy Duckworth.

U.S. Sen. John Kerry emphatically defended his 2002 vote to authorize the use of force in Iraq Tuesday, pointing the finger at then Secretary of State Colin Powell for providing faulty evidence in the run up to the war. Sen. John Kerry (D-Boston)

In a phone interview with conservative talk show host Ken Pittman on WBSM Tuesday afternoon, Pittman asked Kerry (D-Boston) to explain how he at one time voted for the use of force in Iraq and then came to vehemently oppose the U.S. operation there. Kerry welcomed the opportunity.

"Absolutely, I'd be delighted to do that," he said. "I spent a long time on the telephone with Colin Powell on the Sunday before the vote and Colin Powell assured me they were going to do all of the planning necessary, they were not going to rush to war. He assured me that they were going to do all the inspections and exhaust the remedies of the United Nations and finish the diplomacy."

Kerry based his vote "largely on the conversations with Colin Powell," believing that the administration would not rush into war. Kerry didn't place all of the blame on Powell, however, saying that he too was given faulty information.

UPDATED: State Senate candidate Sonia Chang-Diaz sent waves through the local political community Monday when she released an internal poll that showed her holding a commanding 17.5 percent lead over state Sen. Dianne Wilkerson.

Sonia Chang-Diaz (D)

In an interview with PolitickerMA.com Tuesday, Chang-Diaz's pollster, Dan Cohen at Connection Strategies, said that not only was the firm careful about who it interviewed for the survey, but it used a turnout model that would, in theory, favor Wilkerson (D-Boston).

"We used a turnout model where we expect the largest percentage of turnout coming from those neighborhoods were Wilkerson did best," Cohen said.

In developing the model for the poll, Cohen had to determine how to weigh respondents from neighborhoods where Wilkerson did well and respondents from areas Chang-Diaz did well, based on the results of the 2006 primary. Wilkerson edged Chang-Diaz in that race.