MA-WBUR: Baker holds wide leads over all Democrats

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Baker isn't nearly as safe as people on here think he is, but he is favored for now. The difference between the various Democrats is probably name recognition at this point.

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Any chance a conservative Independent candidate runs and gains traction?

The Trump comparisons will be way too large to overcome. MA conservatives will be happy to have any Republican in office. Baker is too popular for a non-Democrat to even consider wasting their time with a run.

An independent conservative may be the only way a Democrat can defeat Baker.

Democrats have their work cut out for them trying to defeat Baker, but it won't be due to an independent conservative run. The only way Democrats can defeat Baker is by channeling their anti-Trump energy. Progressive energy in MA is at a fever pitch. The Democratic nominee will need to channel that energy. They need to rack up the margins in the greater Boston area and Western Mass. Despite Baker's popularity his type are the first to go in wave election years.

The dems would have to rack up huge wins in Boston and Metro West to outweigh the South Shore, North Shore, and Worcester County. One thing I'll be looking for will be were trump's gains in Western Mass and the Fall River-New Bedford area a one off thing or part of a larger trend. Also, are the wealthy towns like Hingham, Cohasset, Boxford, and Westwood gone or just anti trump

I mean, Baker already did (slightly) better than Trump in Western Mass in 2014. The question is, does he simply hold that (because the region is polarized, and not really worth heavily campaigning in) or does he make massive gains there?