TAKING SWINGS
Lindstrom disses Senate competition
In the first real clash of the Republican Senate race, former party chief Beth Lindstrom took jabs at her GOP opponents, labeling businessman John Kingston a “white, rich male” and Rep. Geoff Diehl a “career politician” who can’t defeat Democrat Elizabeth Warren.
Lindstrom, appearing on “Battenfeld” on Boston Herald Radio yesterday, also took shots at Warren, saying she was representing her “followers on Twitter” and her “presidential aspirations” instead of her constituents.
But it was Lindstrom’s characterization of Kingston, a wealthy Winchester businessman, that set off the first fireworks of the primary campaign.
“Do we need another white, rich male to run against Elizabeth Warren?” she asked.
Lindstrom also said Diehl, a co-chairman of President Trump’s Massachusetts campaign, would be hurt because of his close affiliation with the president.
“That’s why I don’t think he can win,” she said. “He cannot go up against that because his brand is that.”
Lindstrom’s comments drew immediate return fire from her GOP rivals.
“It’s no surprise that a candidate who’s failed to gain any traction for the GOP nomination would take petty pot shots at the only Republican who has clearly demonstrated he has the record, resources and message required to defeat Sen. Warren in November,” Kingston spokesman Jon Conradi said. “Voters may find it confusing that Lindstrom claims to oppose the divisive identity politics and class warfare peddled by Sen. Warren but then tries to use that same rhetoric against her fellow Republican to score a quick political point.”
Diehl’s campaign also quickly responded, noting that Diehl has only been in the Legislature seven years and like Lindstrom, owns a small business.
“This would not be the first time the former political consultant Lindstrom has tried to mislead voters,” Diehl spokeswoman Holly Robichaud said. “Geoff Diehl has delivered the only tax cut Massachusetts voters had in seven years, which positions him uniquely against Warren, who has failed to deliver for Massachusetts.”
But Lindstrom aimed her toughest criticism at Kingston, who helped fund a third-party candidate in the 2016 presidential race and attacked then-candidate Donald Trump.
The former consumer affairs secretary, who now owns a small business, said GOP voters would be unlikely to embrace Kingston because of his past opposition to Trump.
“If that third-party candidate had any traction then we would not have President Trump today, it would be Hillary Clinton,” she said. “If we’re in a Republican primary, I think that’s a hard thing to swallow.”
Lindstrom also said she would be able to appeal to female voters, noting that Warren won her 2012 election bid by trouncing Republican Scott Brown among women.
“I just happen to be female. That’s a bonus,” she said. “I have a resume but if that data matters then that’s why I would be a better candidate than the other two opponents.”