LIVELY BATTLE AWAITS
WORCESTER — Gov. Charlie Baker came under attack at his own party convention, with his primary opponent accusing him of siding with Democrats and taking credit for President Trump’s economic successes.
Baker easily got the endorsement of the GOP delegates gathered in Worcester yesterday, winning 70 percent of the vote, but he failed to keep his opponent off the ballot. Springfield minister Scott D. Lively got 28 percent of the vote, well over the 15 percent minimum needed to get a spot in the primary.
With more than 2,000 delegates watching, Lively launched into a full-throated assault on Baker for failing to stand with conservatives like Trump and Vice President Mike Pence while “hanging out” with pro-sanctuary city Democrats like Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh.
“You can’t have it both ways, Charlie,” Lively said.
When Baker supporters attempted to interrupt his speech, Lively asked that they be thrown out of the floor of the DCU Center.
And during Baker’s speech, he was interrupted several times by a protestor who shouted “liar” and “traitor.”
The vast majority of the delegates were supportive of Baker and cheered him, but the loud dissent from Lively and his supporters — many of them wearing “Make America Great Again” hats — put a damper on Baker’s
convention effort.
Lively slammed Baker for what he called an attempt to take credit for the strong economy, which he attributed to Trump’s policies.
“You did not do that, Charlie Baker,” said Lively, who was greeted at times with boos.
After the voting, Baker tried to downplay Lively’s relatively strong showing but also blasted back at the controversial pastor, who has expressed anti-gay views and is staunchly anti-abortion.
“I’m more interested in the 70 percent of the delegates who supported my message and my administration,” Baker said. “There’s no place and no point in public life, in any life, for a lot of the things Scott Lively says and believes, OK?”
Baker also refused to answer repeated questions about whether he would debate Lively.
“Monday I go back to my job as governor,” he said.
During his speech, Baker tacked to the right, attacking Democrats for opposing the death penalty for cop killers, mandatory minimum sentences for fentanyl dealers and making legal residency a requirement for getting a driver’s license.
“Our opponents want to make Massachusetts a sanctuary state — we don’t,” Baker said. “We believe state prison officials should be able to work with federal immigration officials to remove dangerous criminals who are here illegally. Our opponents don’t.”
Baker stayed far away from national politics in his speech, never mentioning the name of President Trump.
But there was a small but vocal minority of delegates who clearly weren’t happy with Baker and his past criticism of Trump.
“If push comes to shove, I will vote for him (Baker) but I just have to shake my head,” said Louis Maldonodo, a delegate from Orange. “We’re glad he’s there but that’s a real big but.”
Jim Morose, a delegate from Danvers, came wearing a proTrump T-shirt.
“He’s done a lot of good for the country so I’m wearing it,” he said.
Other delegates expressed mixed feelings about Baker, saying they would support him despite having reservations about his conservative credentials.
“He has to play ball a little with the other side,” said George Withington of Newton.