Democrats hope to capitalize on Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker’s debate gaffe

Oct. 19--Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker wavered, and Democrats backing his opponent Jay Gonzalez immediately saw an opening.

A day after Baker and Gonzalez faced off in the second of three televised debates, Democrats hoped to capitalize on the governor's gaffe, in which he said several times he hadn't decided whether to vote for the fellow Republican he had endorsed, Geoff Diehl, or Sen. Elizabeth Warren.

Minutes after the debate ended, Baker said he misspoke and he would be voting for Diehl on Tuesday, Nov. 6.

Diehl, a Whitman Republican, is running against Warren, a Cambridge Democrat seeking a second term and considering a run for president in 2020.

Diehl is struggling with the same issue as Gonzalez: Low name recognition and an incumbent with a hefty campaign war chest.

Democrats have repeatedly sought to tie Baker to Diehl, who co-chaired Donald Trump's campaign in a state that has continued to provide low approval ratings for the president. Baker, a moderate Republican who has maintained high approval ratings while in the Corner Office, blanked the 2016 presidential ballot rather than vote for Trump or Hillary Clinton.

"He doesn't take stands based on his core values," Gonzalez said at a press conference the morning after the debate, joined at the offices of NARAL Pro-Choice Massachusetts by Boston City Councilor Michelle Wu and state Senate candidate Katie McBrine.

"These are political calculations for him where he does everything he can to walk the tightrope, up high where he hopes nobody notices him, and tries to balance in the wind without falling down," Gonzalez added. "I am standing firmly on the ground and yelling as loud as I can for the values that I stand for."

Baker noted that he has the support of a number of local officials and Democratic lawmakers.

"I think it's interesting that my opponent continues to want to talk about the Senate race instead of what's going on here in Massachusetts," Baker told reporters Thursday. "And I think that's in large part because things in Massachusetts are actually going quite well for the vast majority of people."

Baker added that his support for abortion rights and concerns about President Trump's temperament are "long-standing and clear."

Baker earlier this year signed a bill repealing archaic anti-abortion laws. And the political arm of Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts is staying neutral in the governor's race.

"Look, I've supported candidates over the years that I didn't agree with on everything. Democrats and Republicans," Baker said Thursday, defending his plan to vote for Diehl. "And as I said last night, I'm supporting the [GOP] ticket."

Gonzalez and Baker face off in their third and final debate on Thursday, Nov. 1 at WCVB studios.

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