With all the talk about New England presidential candidates — Massachusetts senator John Kerry, Connecticut senator Joseph Lieberman, and Vermont governor Howard Dean — and with the Bay State being Kerry country, you wouldn’t think the presidential candidacy of former House minority leader Richard Gephardt would have any traction in these parts. But a brief foray into the region netted Gephardt, who vied with then–Massachusetts governor Michael Dukakis for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1988, almost $100,000 in campaign cash.

Gephardt capped off several days of campaigning in New Hampshire with three fundraisers on Monday — two in Providence and one in Boston. While Senator Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts is supporting Kerry, Gephardt is being aided by Kennedy’s son, Patrick, a US congressman from Rhode Island. Representative Kennedy helped Gephardt raise almost $50,000 in Providence. Gephardt then raised another $40,000 at an event at the Park Plaza in Boston Monday night, according to one of his aides. The Boston event was attended by approximately 25 people, including political consultant Scott Ferson, a former aide to Senator Kennedy and Gephardt, and attorney Leo Boyle, a former head of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America. John Sasso, Dukakis’s former campaign manager, was also spotted in the room — although he made it clear to attendees that he supports Kerry.

" Gephardt clearly has a lot of support from the labor community and had support in that room last night, " says Ferson. " They seemed pretty supportive of him. "

Meanwhile, Steve Murphy, a political consultant with ties to several Boston candidates, says he will serve as Gephardt’s campaign manager. Murphy worked with Ferson on US Representative Stephen Lynch’s campaign for Congress in 2001, Dan Conley’s campaign for Suffolk County district attorney, and Boston city councilor Steve Murphy’s (same name, different guy) campaign for treasurer in 2002. Murphy is credited with doing a Lynch campaign ad featuring the South Boston native’s brother-in-law, to whom Lynch donated part of his liver.

Speaking from his offices outside Washington, DC, Murphy confirmed he will be Gephardt’s campaign manager, adding that his candidate will do well in New Hampshire. " Clearly, Kerry, Dean, and Lieberman have got real regional advantages in New Hampshire, " said Murphy. " Nobody is going to win this election based on money or regional ties. It’s going to come with the candidate who best connects with voters and is the best messenger. "

Murphy contends that that candidate is Gephardt, who is already strong in Iowa, his neighboring state. " Nobody’s going to win the race tactically. "

Gephardt will return to the region in March. He’s becoming another force the New England candidates will have to deal with.