Baker hesitant to back Weld presidential bid

BOSTON (AP) — Gov. Charlie Baker has described himself as a big fan of former Gov. William Weld, while making no secret that he isn’t much of a fan of President Donald Trump.

So Weld’s announcement that he’s officially exploring a run against Trump in the Republican primaries next year could potentially leave Massachusetts’ current GOP governor in a bind.

“He’s a mentor of mine and I admire the work he did here as governor,” Baker said this past week when asked about Weld’s looming candidacy.

Yet Baker quickly declared that it was far too early to get behind any presidential contender, even if the 2020 race appears to be revving up more quickly than usual as evidenced by a wave of already-announced Democratic hopefuls.

A young Baker cut his teeth in government working for the Weld administration from 1991 to 1997, eventually serving in the cabinet-level post of secretary of health and human services. He was later named secretary of administration and finance — the state’s top budget official — by Weld’s successor, Republican Gov. Paul Cellucci.

Baker and Weld share similar philosophies toward governing. Both are fiscal conservatives but hold liberal positions on social issues such as abortion rights and gay marriage.

As a candidate in 2014, Baker said in an interview with WGBH-FM that he considered himself “to be sort of a Bill Weld Republican,” adding he was “pretty much cut from (Weld’s) cloth.”

That sentiment, along with Baker’s frequent criticism of the current White House occupant — he’s said Trump lacks the proper temperament for the job — raises an obvious question: Might Baker be one of Weld’s first prominent backers should his former boss follow through on a Trump challenge?

No endorsement appears likely in the near future, if ever.

Baker could be hedging his bets to see how the presidential campaign shapes up, and whether other Republicans who are better known than Weld nationally — former Ohio Gov. John Kasich for example — enter the fray.

Three years ago, Baker endorsed then-New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s presidential bid, only to see Christie drop out after a poor showing in the New Hampshire primary.

Baker might also be wary of further alienating the White House for fear it could hurt Massachusetts. Or he may wish to avoid becoming something of an outcast among Republicans who, according to recent national polls, still support Trump by wide margins.