Help indeed is what [John E. Walsh] provided to the former federal prosecutor making his first bid for elective office. A few days after the dinner, Walsh and [Deval L. Patrick] had coffee and hit it off. The following week, Walsh signed on as Patrick's campaign manager.

The genial, heavyset Abington native, who owns a small local insurance agency, masterminded Patrick's improbable journey from political unknown to governor-elect. Walsh was the architect of Patrick's signature grass-roots movement, a network of committed supporters in every town, ward, and precinct from the Berkshires to Boston.

"John Walsh will always be John Walsh," said [Timothy White]. "He's an Abington kid and will always be one."