Today’s primary could be the revenge of the unenrolled.
There are 2 million of them in the state, and today they could sway the Democratic race for governor, or at least make it interesting.
Unenrolled supporters of GOP gubernatorial candidate Charlie Baker may decide to jump over and weigh in on the three-way Democratic race. Most polls have Baker cleaning up in the Republican primary, so strategically it makes sense for the Republican-leaning independents to try and play primary spoiler.
That could be good news for Steve Grossman and bad news for Martha Coakley.
One of Boston Herald Radio’s texters wrote, “While intending to vote for Baker in the general election, I will pull a D tomorrow and vote for Grossman to make mischief.”
Baker supporters don’t want a Coakley matchup. They believe Baker could have an easier time taking down Grossman.
There’s some irony here considering Grossman has been telling his supporters that he is the only candidate who can beat Baker.
Grossman even got his campaign surrogate, former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean, to push this issue: “Massachusetts needs another progressive governor with a vision to give all working families opportunity and access to the American Dream.” Grossman is the guy, he added.
That’s not the only upset wild card. Supporters of Don Berwick could also help Grossman. It will be the second-guessing Berwick backers standing in the voting booth who could make a game-time decision to hedge their bets and go for the progressive with a better chance at winning. Grossman could see a Berwick bump.
Coakley has not been running as a progressive candidate like Berwick and Grossman, and that could hurt her. According to our latest Suffolk University/Boston Herald bellwether poll, Berwick only has about 15 percent of the vote. Even if he picked up all the undecideds it still wouldn’t be enough. There will be plenty of progressive voters who want Berwick, but will cave for Grossman.
Grossman pulled out his best asset — his mom — late in the game. I bet if voters got to meet 92-year-old Shirley Grossman just a few weeks ago, it would have led to a better showing for her son in the polls. The latest TV spot that features Shirley is the highlight of his campaign and softens up his image. Will it help? We’ll see tonight.
Jaclyn Cashman co-hosts “Morning Meeting” from 9 a.m. to noon on Boston Herald Radio. Follow her on Twitter @JaclynCashman.
Copyright © 2024 Jaclyn Cashman.
