Last modified: Wednesday, September 20, 2006 2:05 AM EDT Patrick won friends here BY RICK FOSTER/SUN CHRONICLE STAFF Democratic gubernatorial rivals Deval Patrick, Chris Gabrieli and Tom Reilly staked out carefully crafted positions on issues ranging from cutting the state's income tax to whether to allow illegal aliens to pay Massachusetts res ident tuition at state colleges. But in the end, the packaging turned out to be just as important as the package among local Democrats who cast their votes in Tues day's state primary. Many voters who cast ballots said they took impressions they formed of candidates during the campaign from TV appearances, debates and slogans into the voting booth. Union endorsements also carried weight with them. Doris Gagnon of Attleboro, who supported Deval Patrick, said Patrick looked and sounded gubernatorial. `` He's a very good speaker,'' said Gagnon, who added she favors a governor who's a good communicator. `` I think it means a lot when you have someone who can put their ideas across without a lot of ums and ahs.'' At a Democratic unity party Tuesday night at Morin's restaurant in Attleboro, Patrick supporters cheered their victorious candidate and prepared to take the fight to the Republicans in the fall. Patrick campaign organizer Darren Major said Patrick was his own best salesman during the campaign. `` Deval doesn't have to be sold,'' Major said. `` Deval sells himself. All we need to do is to get that message out to the people.'' Earlier in the day, at the polls, Paul Garon, of Attleboro, said Gabrielli's media message got through to him. `` I heard what he stands for,'' he said. `` That's why I voted for him.'' Steve Potishman of Mansfield said Patrick, his candidate, is well versed in social issues and has a human touch that appeals to a broad range of voters. `` He has a good feeling for a wide swath of his constituents,'' Potishman said. Abdul Samma of North Attleboro voted for Reilly, saying the Democratic attorney general made an effort to meet with voters personally and to reach out to varied groups. He said Reilly also came across as a man of the people. `` He comes from humble origins,'' Samma said. `` And he doesn't forget where he came from.'' As a Muslim, Samma also said he appreciated how Reilly extended a hand to minority groups during the campaign. Cleo Sinor of North Attleboro, a social worker, said she would have been happy with either Patrick or Gabrielli as the Democratic nominee to face Lt. Gov. Kerry Healey in the November election. But she said she went along with the union to which she belongs, which endorsed Patrick. Bob Norcott, a member of a government workers union, said he favored Patrick, but added his union's decision to endorse the former Coca Cola executive and Clinton Administration official was the top factor convincing him to vote for Patrick. Not all those who voted on Tuesday had a horse in the Democratic gubernatorial race or the Bristol County district attorney contest, the other compelling item on most area ballots. Emilia Foy and her brother, Ted Smietana, of Attleboro came out to vote on the Republican side, even though virtually the only contested races were Democratic. Foy said she wouldn't think of skipping an election. `` I think it's a responsibility,'' she said.