Baker

[Free Bird]

Is he going anywhere nationally? I know for a fact not in 16, but maybe 2020 if a Democrat wins?

[Libertarian Socialist Dem]

Is he going anywhere nationally? I know for a fact not in 16, but maybe 2020 if a Democrat wins?

I doubt it, in MA he'd be lucky to survive 2018 provided the Democrats nominate someone halfway better then Coakley. If he did he might try but I don't think would get the nomination as he'd be seen as Romney part deux. I don't think he'd have much value as the VP pick on a national ticket either.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

As I said many times before, getting elected as Republican for a state office in Democratic state (and vice versa), doesn't really translate into being in a good position in federal elections.

Let's take one of the recent Republican Governors in Massachusetts, William Weld, very popular as Governor. Four years after getting reelected with a whooping 70%, he lost (and not even narrowly) Senate race to a lackluster incumbent.

And let's take Ben Nelson, reelected as Governor of Nebraska by a massive landslide in a midst of the 1994 Republican wave. Two years later he lost a Senate race in landslide to an underdog Republican.

And what about presidential elections? We all remember Romney had his ass handed to him in the very state he was Governor.

The point is, state races (such as Governorship) are somewhat less partisan and it's not uncommon to see Democrats winning in very Republican states and Republicans in very Democratic ones (we are remember folks like Jim Douglas, Dave Freudenthal, Brad Henry or Jodi Rell). However, in federal elections (Congress, President), rules are diffrent.

[Libertarian Socialist Dem]

If you look at the map of governors in the late 90s amazingly almost all of New England still had Republican governors and the south still mostly had Democratic ones.

[Brewer]

I don't see Baker making it very far in a Republican primary anytime soon with his positions on social issues.

[Mr. Smith]

@Kaljewt: Nelson still eventually made it to Senate.

[IceSpear]

He's pro-choice. There's your answer.

[Maxwell]

Baker/Paul is basically a dream I had once.

[smoltchanov]

No. His views are very good for Massachusetts, but very different from national Republican "norm"...

[Libertarian Socialist Dem]

Baker/Paul is basically a dream I had once.

Paul/Baker would be more likely but still not very.

[Türkisblau]

He's pro-choice. There's your answer.

Romney was also pro-choice once upon a time.

[Maxwell]

Baker/Paul is basically a dream I had once.

Paul/Baker would be more likely but still not very.

Thats why I said it was a dream I had once

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

@Kaljewt: Nelson still eventually made it to Senate.

I know. However the fact he lost in landslide just two years after winning his gubernatorial reelection in the in greatest landslide in Nebraska's history, is quite telling.

[Indy Texas]

As I said many times before, getting elected as Republican for a state office in Democratic state (and vice versa), doesn't really translate into being in a good position in federal elections.

Very true. The closest example of that happening I can think of is this guy.

[Vosem]

As I said many times before, getting elected as Republican for a state office in Democratic state (and vice versa), doesn't really translate into being in a good position in federal elections.

Very true. The closest example of that happening I can think of is this guy.

New York wasn't really a Republican state in the 1920s. It was a swing state.

[bobloblaw]

Is he going anywhere nationally? I know for a fact not in 16, but maybe 2020 if a Democrat wins?

I doubt it, in MA he'd be lucky to survive 2018 provided the Democrats nominate someone halfway better then Coakley. If he did he might try but I don't think would get the nomination as he'd be seen as Romney part deux. I don't think he'd have much value as the VP pick on a national ticket either.

Actually since 1990, the GOP has controlled all but 8 years of the Govs mansion there. Dont assume that the Dems will win in 2018. By 2018 the GOP will have controlled the Govs mansion in MA for 20/28 years.

[Attorney General, LGC Speaker, and Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Pro-Choice, supports SSM, from the state of the last losing GOP presidential nominee. He'd never win.

Massachusetts has no problem with electing republican governors - it needs them to place a 'check' on its legislature, after all. Plus, 2018 is a midterm year. As long as Baker stays moderate and the democrats don't have an absolutely stellar nominee, he should be fine.

[Attorney General, LGC Speaker, and Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

As I said many times before, getting elected as Republican for a state office in Democratic state (and vice versa), doesn't really translate into being in a good position in federal elections.

Woodrow Wilson

A democrat.