By Elise Harmon, News Correspondent
There’s no rest for Democrat Martha Coakley and Republican Charlie Baker after primary wins on Sept. 9. Preparing for the Nov. 4 election, where they will face off against three independent candidates, the gubernatorial hopefuls are stepping up to the plate – releasing television ads, making speeches, meeting the public and creating controversy.
After two full weeks of campaigning, recent polls varied. The Rasmussen Report placed the two major party candidates at a firm tie on Sunday, with 42 points each, while the latest WBUR poll put Coakley 10 points ahead.
For the candidates, close results are expected.
“We always knew that the race would be really close,” Bonnie McGilpin, Coakley’s press secretary and a Northeastern graduate, said. “But we’re getting Martha out as much as we can, getting the message out about economic equality and building our grassroots organization. That’ll be our strategy until election day.”
Coakley, who beat out Steven Grossman and Don Berwick for the Democratic nomination, is the current Mass. attorney general. For her, this campaign is a second chance. In 2010, she lost Edward Kennedy’s senate seat in a special election. Prior to attorney general, Coakley held the position of Middlesex County district attorney.
Her main opponent, Charlie Baker, is running for governor a second time after losing the 2010 race to incumbent Deval Patrick. In 1992, he was appointed the Secretary of Health and Human Services of Mass. before serving as Secretary of Administration and Finance. He spent two years as the CEO of Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, turning the company around after it neared bankruptcy.
Coakley and Baker will run against three independent candidates.
Evan Falchuk, a member of the United Independent Party, is a healthcare entrepreneur with the motto “Innovative Ideas, Pragmatic Answers.” His campaign strongly focuses on both civil rights and smart government spending.
Scott Lively, a reverend with the slogan “The Miracle Ticket,” is running on a platform of family values, traditional marriage and “protecting kids from the ‘porn’ culture.”
Jeff McCormick founded Saturn Partners in 1993, helping early-stage companies establish their businesses. He’s anti-casino, anti-bureaucracy and pro-environmental action.
Coakley has recently called for a series of debates including all the candidates.
“We are hoping to have at least six debates,” McGilpin said. “We are hoping the debates will feature all the candidates – the three independent candidates too. We really want [the locations] to be regionally balanced.”
Baker, while enthusiastic about debating all of the candidates, wishes to focus most on debating specifically with Coakley.
“Charlie looks forward to debating the rest of the field, doing a handful of one-on-one debates with the Attorney General,” Tim Buckley, the communications director for Baker’s campaign, said.
Coakley attacked Baker last week for a comment he made when asked if National Football League Commissioner Roger Goodell should step down. He responded that he would need more information about the matter. Coakley’s campaign immediately produced a video condemning his statement.
“I don’t think it’s a hard call,” Coakley said in the video. “I think [Goodell] should resign.”
Baker’s statement, which garnered a backlash among women’s political groups, hurt him in an area he’s concentrating on – attracting female voters.
“We recently had a part meet and greet, part fundraiser with 350 women,” Buckley said, adding that the event raised over $150,000.
Women aren’t the only group Baker needs to attract. If he wants to win the election in Mass., he needs to appeal to Democrats as well as to Republicans. Last Tuesday, Baker added Democratic Quincy Mayor Tom Koch to his list of supporters and is also appealing to voters with a socially liberal stance.
Coakley, for her part, lacks consistent support from Democratic voters. Her primary win against Steven Grossman was fairly narrow.
However, she has the endorsements of two of the most powerful women in politics: Elizabeth Warren and Michelle Obama.
Warren went on the campaign trail with Coakley last week, speaking about Coakley’s fighting spirit and passion for helping those who are underrepresented on Beacon Hill.
On Wednesday, Obama reported that she would be coming to Boston to attend a fundraiser on Oct. 3. Right now, Coakley’s donations fall $800,000 short of Baker’s.
While their campaign funds may not be equal, both campaigns are furiously making calls and knocking on doors.
“Our team has knocked on over 100,000 doors throughout Massachusetts and made over a million phone calls,” McGilpin said. Baker’s camp made its one-millionth contact over the weekend.
Photo courtesy Theresa Thompson, Creative Commons
