Matt Dunne, Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor, basked Tuesday in the praise of seven "cool, awesome, powerful women."

Dunne, who faces John Tracy in a Democratic primary election on Sept. 12, brought his campaign to Tracy's backyard -- downtown Burlington. Standing in the same atrium where Tracy kicked off his campaign, Dunne happily accepted endorsements from seven women who don't need much introduction, especially in Chittenden County. "Women for Dunne" included former Gov. Madeleine Kunin, Barbara Grimes, general manager of the Burlington Electric Co., former Chittenden County state Sen. Janet Munt, artists Sabra Field and Peggy Kennenstine, downtown Burlington developer Melinda Moulton and Eileen Blackwood, a Burlington civil rights lawyer.

-- Nancy Remsen