Defining Political Capital

Thursday’s Globe relates that Mayor Tom Menino is considering a number of new initiatives. He states that there is a particular opportunity to get things done now:

“I have the political capital to do it right now that I haven’t had in the past,’’ Menino said.

So, winning 17 of 22 wards with 57% of the vote provides an opportunity that winning every single ward in the city with 76% (2001) of the vote and 67% (2005) of the vote does not?