If Gov. Charlie Baker wants to hold onto his seat it’s about time he grab a marker, make a sign and attend one of theseanti-Trump rallies.
His first competitor, Jay Gonzalez, former Gov. Deval Patrick’s budget czar, entered the race yesterday planning to ride that movement right up to Election Day. His order of business was to call Baker out for not attending recent protests, from the Women’s March on the Common to the local immigration rally Sunday.
“I think it is the responsibility of the governor to stand up for every single person in this state and make it crystal clear that hate and discrimination won’t be tolerated,” Gonzalez told me yesterday on Boston Herald Radio.
Gonzalez accused Baker of showing “a broader pattern” of not “taking a stand on these issues.”
Baker’s campaign shot back saying such “hyper-partisan and dishonest accusations are so lacking in credibility, oneshould question whether Mr. Gonzalez has the judgement required to lead.”
The race is on!
Baker did make his opinion of President Trump’s executive order on immigration very clear through a statement stressing, “Massachusetts is a global community ... The federal government’s recent decision puts this at risk and I believe focusing on countries’ predominant religions will not make the country safer as terrorists have showed they intend to strike from across the world.”
But press releases won’t cut it when Bay Staters are this furious with the president who happens to be a part of the same political party as our governor, even if they share few policy positions.
The Republican governor has denounced Trump since he entered the race and didn’t vote for him in November.
Baker has done an incredible job creating cordial and functional relationships with Democrats and in some cases bromances with others, including Mayor Marty Walsh.
His low-drama form of governing has resulted in extremely favorable approval ratings. However, Baker’s style could cost him the election in this divisive political climate. People want to back those who take a stand.
Gonzalez is hoping that’s the case: “I have been concerned that governor Baker is too satisfied with status quo and sitting on the sidelines too much when we need him and right now in particular with Donald Trump as our president.”
Jaclyn Cashman is co-host of the “Morning Meeting” show on Boston Herald Radio. Follow her on Twitter @JaclynCashman.
