MA SEN 2020: BAKER CONSIDERING CHALLENGING MARKEY (Herald speculation)

[Roll Roons]

Charlie no!!!!

[Peanut]

Maybe he'd have a chance in a midterm (especially with a Democratic president), but with Trump on the ballot? Trump will be like a gigantic boulder on his shoulders that gradually crushes him as we get closer and closer to the election.

Ohhh he could pull a popular Governor gets destroyed in a Senate election! I'd love to see Baker go Bayh-Bayh.

[Roll Roons]

Also he did say this right after winning reelection:
http://www.bostonherald.com/news/local_politics/2018/11/charlie_baker_absolutely_staying_put

[Sestak]

inb4 'TOSSUP'

[Bidenworth2020]

not only would he lose easily, but this would make him a more polarizing figure going into a third term

also lol bagel I would never vote hogan for senate

[RussFeingoldWasRobbed]

Is he seriously doing this? I say go ahead, run a massive campaign. And of course Cook and Sabato will move this to Tossup

[Politician]

Senator Phil Bredesen supports this move.

Markey is going to get slaughtered if Baker runs. Don't underestimate Baker, he is probably one of, if not the strongest candidate of either party.

lol

[Terry the Fat Shark]

Didnt know Baker wanted to ruin his entire political career.

eh, I don't see how it's ruining his career. He can't run for re-election and he has little chance in the present GOP for a presidential primary, might as well...

[USO2019PB]

Their is no way Baker will defeat a incumbent Democratic senator in Massachusetts, while Trump is losing the state by 25-30 points at the top of the ballot. The only way Republicans win Massachusetts Senate seats is during low-turnout special elections with a unpopular Democratic president, IMHO.

[Skye]

Maybe he'd have a chance in a midterm (especially with a Democratic president), but with Trump on the ballot? Trump will be like a gigantic boulder on his shoulders that gradually crushes him as we get closer and closer to the election.

Pretty much this. No way Baker defeats a D incumbent in MA, however boring Markey is, with Trump at the top of the ticket. Not unless Trump's Democratic challenger completely botches it, and loses in a landslide. And that's highly unlikely.

[Co-Chair Bagel23]

Markey is going to get slaughtered if Baker runs. Don't underestimate Baker, he is probably one of, if not the strongest candidate of either party.

Please look up The Massachusetts Senate Election of 1996

And to reinforce this point, things have only gotten more partisan since then, especially on the federal level.

[Zaybay]

Didnt know Baker wanted to ruin his entire political career.

eh, I don't see how it's ruining his career. He can't run for re-election and he has little chance in the present GOP for a presidential primary, might as well...

Well, he can. MA doesnt have term limits. Doing this practically destroys any chance at reelection.

[Figueira]

He isn't going to run.

[TheBeardedOne]

Although I think Markey would win (and should be heavily favored), people shouldn’t count out Baker so easily. Is everybody already forgetting Scott Brown?

[Stand With Israel. Crush Hamas]

Likely D unless Markey retires or gets primaried by the Kombucha Party.

[MillennialModerate]

I know, I know... I said Heller would win so I know nothing blah blah...

BUT..... If Markey is his opponent then I wouldn’t be shocked if Baker made it really really close (If it’s Moulton then forget it ... if it’s Kennedy then REALLY forget it)

Ultimately I think he’d lose because Trump is on the top of the ticket.

Now if he runs and wins a third term as Governor.... I’d give him a SERIOUS shot in 2024. I know, call me crazy.

[Okay, maybe Mike Johnson is a competent parliamentarian.]

ayy lmao

[ON Progressive]

Although I think Merkley would win (and should be heavily favored), people shouldn’t count out Baker so easily. Is everybody already forgetting Scott Brown?

Scott Brown wasn't going up against an incumbent, the country has polarized a lot since 2010, and it was also a special election.

[Amenhotep Bakari-Sellers]

Shaheen, Markey, Collins were gonna get competetion anyways.  So, I'm not surprised by this, the Northeast is safe D, but moderates make inroads like in the midwest.

[Amenhotep Bakari-Sellers]

Baker is moderate enough and can come close to winning. I wouldn't underestimate him

[Mr.Phips]

Hahahaha.  He will lose by something like 59%-40% once Dems run ads saying that he will be a rubber stamp for Trump, Cruz, and McConnell.

[RINO Tom]

Maybe he'd have a chance in a midterm (especially with a Democratic president), but with Trump on the ballot? Trump will be like a gigantic boulder on his shoulders that gradually crushes him as we get closer and closer to the election.

Pretty much this ... he'd likely lose by 5-10% no matter what, but he'd better hope Trump doesn't run for re-election if this (admittedly glorious and beautiful and flawless) pipe dream were to have a chance.

[Former Dean Phillips Supporters for Haley (I guess???!?) 👁️]

Say hello to Bill Weld 2.0.

It will be like reverse Bredesen if he tries it. Both sides will light a bunch of money on fire, and then it will turn out to not even be particularly close. Partisanship is too strong these days. Even under pretty much optimal circumstances, remember that Scott Brown only barely won the MA Senate special election. And that was when things were still (somewhat) less partisan.

[SATW]

Maybe he'd have a chance in a midterm (especially with a Democratic president), but with Trump on the ballot? Trump will be like a gigantic boulder on his shoulders that gradually crushes him as we get closer and closer to the election.

Pretty much this ... he'd likely lose by 5-10% no matter what, but he'd better hope Trump doesn't run for re-election if this (admittedly glorious and beautiful and flawless) pipe dream were to have a chance.

Trump excites all of the racist Irish-Italian hoodrats in Massachusetts in a way Baker doesn’t though. 

oh does he? is that why he lost by almost 30% in 2016? 

[Free Bird]

Say hello to Bill Weld 2.0.