On Tuesday the Democrats got their uncompromising candidate for governor. Or did they?

When former Sen. Maggie Hassan, D-Exeter, declared her candidacy for governor in October, she made sure to take The Pledge. She had learned enough from watching Gov. John Lynch to know that Democrats who pledge to veto a sales or income tax dramatically broaden their electoral appeal.

It is a smart calculation. By taking The Pledge, Democratic gubernatorial candidates gain many times more independent and moderate voters than they lose from the much smaller pool of hard-core liberal voters. But it does leave a primary opening for a liberal willing to raise the pro-income-tax flag and run it up the hill.

Enter former Sen. Jackie Cilley, D-Barrington. On Tuesday, Cilley announced her candidacy for governor by proclaiming her firm opposition to the “Tea Party” movement, which she says controls the State House these days. She used words like “bold” and “leader” when referring to herself, as she made a point of refusing to take The Pledge.

“I won't play pledge politics with the future of our state,” she said. “If one takes enough pledges, they never have to think about anything again. My candidacy and my administration, if elected, will be based on an unwavering belief in the intelligence of our people to have any conversation they choose without my telling them in advance I will not listen to them.”

How about telling them in advance precisely what you stand for?

For all of her talk about bold leadership, Cilley was careful not to actually advocate an income tax or sales tax. She advocated policies that probably would require one (or both): dramatically increasing state spending on nearly everything under the sun. But she stopped short of saying how she would fund her spending priorities.

That's some leadership.

If Cilley were truly a bold leader, she would proclaim herself for an income tax and give the voters a clear alternative.