A look at the Governor’s race up in Massachusetts with Republican Charlie Baker….
A Republican-backed super PAC that poured millions into Baker’s 2014 victory is splashing a cheery, 32-second spot across local televisions, touting his lofty polling and the state’s humming economy. The outside group, known as the Commonwealth Future Independent Expenditure PAC, spent $11.7 million on ads on his race four years ago, fueled predominantly by donations from the Republican Governors Association.
A spokeswoman for Commonwealth Future, Jamie Rhoades, declined to say how much the RGA has contributed this cycle or how much in ads it has committed to Baker’s race. But the number is expected to be significant.
According to a Democratic media consultant who’s reviewed recent ad buys, the PAC has reserved approximately $5 million worth of cable and broadcast air time through October — a substantial amount, especially when combined with $4.3 million Baker’s campaign itself has reserved.
Scott Ferson, a Democratic strategist, said the early investment of the super PAC — which can raise unlimited amounts of money — is a sign that “you can’t take Massachusetts for granted if you’re a Republican.”….
Interesting that the Republican Governor’s Association commercial for Charlie Baker in Massachusetts is cheery and upbeat (I think I’ve seen it).
In neighboring Rhode Island, where I live, the RGA ran a really dark, negative ad (monotone contrast, largely black, white and red) against our Democratic incumbent Governor Gina Raimondo (also seeking a second term this year). The points it raised about genuine issues such as her mismanagement of a new computer system were valid, but the starkly negative tone was in the straight national cookie-cutter negative style.
This often doesn’t work in Rhode Island, as a less-ominous Alan Finkelstein ad for an outside group (I think Americans for Prosperity) backfired about a decade ago when used against Senators Jack Reed in Rhode Island and Paul Wellstone, where the gently-mocking tagline “Now that’s liberal !” was more likely to be an endorsement than a condemnation, since Democrats and DFLers in both states still feel no embarrassment about calling themselves liberals.
The Republican running against Reed, State Treas. Nancy Meyer, asked the independent outside group to stop running the ad sinee it wasn’t helping her campaign. I have a feeling that this year the same request has been made of the RGA by the Alan Fung and Patricia Morgan campaigns. in RI
WashDC hands could mess things up?
Sometimes it could be wise to dis-invite the national party people from your campaign , eh?