Photo-ops with Dems gives GOP governor an edge

July 16--BOSTON -- Gov. Charlie Baker is spending a lot of time with Democrats, making it even harder for challengers from the opposition party who hope to unseat him in November.

Baker, a Swampscott Republican who is seeking another term along with Shrewsbury Republican Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito, has done little if any stumping as the 2018 election cycle lumbers along. That doesn't mean he's shy about pressing the flesh or getting time in front of the cameras.

Last week, Baker was flanked by prominent Beacon Hill Democrats including House Speaker Robert DeLeo and Senate President Harriette Chandler to sign the "red flag" bill -- a key issue for progressive Democrats -- giving police and others a tool to seize firearms from people with mental health issues.

Baker also posed for the cameras with Democrats U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton and Boston Mayor Marty Walsh at a recent groundbreaking for a new veterans housing complex. He shared the podium with U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, a Springfield Democrat, to announce a new study for east-west passenger rail service.

He even crashed a press conference last month with Democratic Attorney General Maura Healey as she unveiled a lawsuit against an opioid manufacturer.

Political observers say sharing the stage with top Democrats -- even if it's not an official part of Baker's re-election strategy -- makes it hard for Democratic hopefuls Jay Gonzalez and Bob Massie to gain traction with voters.

Gonzalez and Massie have struggled to win name recognition and raise enough money to get their messages out. Neither responded to requests for comment for this story.

Likewise, Baker's get-along personalty makes it hard for Democrats to criticize him, observers say.

"It's hard to attack a man who is friendly because you'll come across as disingenuous," said Mary McHugh, a political science professor at Merrimack College. "So the Democrats have a real problem in that regard."

Jeffrey Berry, a political science professor at Tufts University, points out that the power of incumbency allows Baker to "campaign just by being governor."

"He gets media coverage by doing his job, which includes bill signings and other public events," he said. "It's a conventional strategy for any incumbent gubernatorial candidate."

Baker edged out Democrat Martha Coakley for the governor's office four years ago, but his popularity remains unusually high. Recent polls put his approval rating above 70 percent -- better than any other U.S. governor, according to the political news and research group Morning Consult.

He faces a Sept. 4 primary challenge from Republican Scott Lively, an anti-gay pastor from Springfield.

Democrats Quentin Palfrey and Jimmy Tingle are among those running separately for the lieutenant governor's job.

Baker-Polito campaign spokesman Terry MacCormack said the duo "are proud to have strong working relationships with their state and local colleagues across the aisle and an accomplished bipartisan record that continues to deliver results for the people of Massachusetts."

Baker has amassed a sizable war chest in his bid for another four-year term -- reporting $8.2 million in his campaign account at the beginning of June.

In the past few weeks, he has started spending heavily on campaign work and reserved millions of dollars worth of ad time on TV stations.

The Republican Party has spent years trying to make inroads in deep-blue, Democratic-leaning Massachusetts. It holds no statewide seats besides the governor's office, and none in the state's congressional delegation. Republicans are outnumbered 5-to-1 in the state Legislature.

Democrats are banking on angst over President Donald Trump's divisive policies -- and Sen. Elizabeth Warren topping the ticket in November -- to draw voters to the polls in a state where they outnumber registered Republicans 3 to 1, giving the party a good shot at taking back the governor's office.

The state's Democratic Party has regularly sought to paint Baker with the same brush as Trump on divisive issues such as immigration and abortion rights.

But political observers say it doesn't appear to be working, as Baker distances himself from Trump and far-right conservatives.

Phil Johnston, a political consultant and former chairman of the state Democratic Party, predicts a "massive" Democratic turnout in the Nov. 6 elections.

He said Baker knows he needs to cozy up to Democrats if he expects to win another term.

It's a strategy that mirrors the approach of two of Baker's political mentors -- Govs. William Weld and Paul Cellucci, who were also Republicans, Johnston said.

"Democrats are so upset with Trump's policies that they'll flock to the polls to support Warren," he said. "So Baker knows he has to be collaborative."

Christian M. Wade covers the Massachusetts Statehouse for North of Boston Media Group's newspapers and websites. Email him at cwade@cnhi.com.

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