Another Three-Way In Massachusetts Race

Treasurer Tim Cahill has jumped ship from the Democrats…a move that will all but guarantee his name on the gubernatorial ballot.

Gov. Deval Patrick says he’s sorry to see the Democrats lose a member but doesn’t have much else to say about Treasurer Timothy Cahill becoming an independent and possible gubernatorial challenger next year.

The governor said today the Democrats have to be about “appealing to and reaching out to everybody.”

Patrick says he’s reserving any further comment until the political season begins — even though he’s holding a pair of re-election fundraisers in Washington on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The two-term treasurer has decided to switch his voter registration from Democrat to unenrolled. That would let him avoid a primary fight against Patrick and proceed directly to the November 2010 general election ballot.

Convenience store magnate Christy Mihos is already seeking the Republican nomination and health care executive Charles Baker is considering a run, as well.

I’m not sure what Tim Cahill is thinking, but I suspect that Team Mihos is pretty happy right about now, and surely this will influence Charlie Baker’s decision about running for governor.

Cahill’s move will only help the Republican Party, much in the same way Christy Mihos running as an independent in 2006 hurt the Republicans (even though Patrick still garnered more than a simple majority of the vote). A primary battle is better than not having one, and if Patrick wasn’t doing enough to destroy the Democrats’ chances of keeping the corner office, Tim Cahill may have just done that. With Deval Patrick (D), Tim Cahill (I) and Christy Mihos (R), the smart money is Mihos. Looking at the poll that came out last week, there hasn’t been a better time to be a Republican than right now. Patrick will take the few remaining loyals and the straight party line voters, Cahill might take the Democrats who are fed up with Patrick, leaving the rest, a majority, to Mihos. If Baker decides to run, and wins the primary, he too should earn a victory.

Thank you, Tim Cahill.

Aaron Margolis is a life long resident of the Bay State, and works at an architectural firm north of Boston. Aaron has a Master of Architecture Degree from Boston Architectural College and is currently in the process of becoming of a Registered Architect.

3 Responses to “Another Three-Way In Massachusetts Race”

1. V says:

   July 7, 2009 at 1:20 pm

   Is anyone else sick of hearing the speculation on Charlie “who is he” Baker (aka TAO)?

   I’m happy that Cahill is stepping out of the box. Not only does this provide a great boost to Christy, I’m thinking that it effectively ruins his own political future.

   You think the GOP is miffed at Christy for 2006? Just wait until after 2010. Cahill won’t be able to get elected dog catcher. (I can just see it now….”Dad for Dog catcher”).

   Reply
2. hubpol says:

   July 7, 2009 at 3:16 pm

   Consensus in the political organization that I am in is that with Tim being on the outs with the party establishment, he knew it would be tough to get the 15% needed to get on the ballot at the convention. And with the recent rule change where you are automatically eliminated if you don’t get the 15% on the first ballot, he saw the writing on the wall.

   I guess the Rules Convention was held recently and all the Constitutions officers were announced except for Cahill. That could have been the final straw. I hear it was a Patrick freak-fest at the event.

   Reply
3. Hub Politics » It’s About Time: Charlie Baker To Run For Governor says:

   July 8, 2009 at 11:47 am

   [...] Another Three-Way In Massachusetts Race [...]

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