[Edward P. Boland] was the third Democrat in the state's 12-member delegation to endorse one of the rival Democrats in next week's primary. US Reps. Joseph D. Early of Worcester and James M. Shannon of Lawrence endorsed former governor Michael S. Dukakis. US Sen. Edward M. Kennedy has said that he intends to vote for Dukakis.

State Secretary of Administration and Finance David M. Bartley of Holyoke, who persuaded Boland to endorse King last weekend, described the legislator's support as "a very crucial endorsement in western Massachusetts. The most respected political figure in western Massachusetts is Edward Boland."

Asked how King's outspoken support for the economic policies of President Ronald Reagan squared with his own views, Boland said, "I don't support Reaganomics, of course." He added that he found "no fault" in King's support for Reagan's "New Federalism" policies, which are aimed at transferring more responsibility for a number of federal programs to the states while cutting back on the flow of federal dollars for those programs.