The art of the Diehl
Baker GOP foe lands Trump endorsement
GOP gubernatorial candidate Geoff Diehl has landed a big deal endorsement.
Former President Donald Trump is throwing his support behind the conservative candidate in a race where rivals are still lining up and Gov. Charlie Baker has yet to declare.
“Baker is bad on crime, disrespects our police, does nothing for our Veterans, has totally botched the Vaccination rollout, presided over the collapse of the MBTA, and has seen crime go to record levels,” Trump said in his endorsement Tuesday night.
Diehl has branded himself as a conservative counterweight in a race where most of the other candidates swing far to the left.
Baker has yet to announce if he will seek reelection to a third term — repeatedly saying he is in discussions with his family. The moderate, however, remains one of the most popular governors in the nation.
But he’s never been on Trump’s invitation list.
“Geoff Diehl of Massachusetts looks very much forward to his run against ‘RINO’ Governor Charlie Baker, who has done nothing for the Republican Party and has driven Massachusetts energy costs into, by far, the highest in the Nation,” Trump said from his “Save America PAC” email address.
He compared Baker to “AOC” — New York “Squad” member U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez — when it comes to “green climate.”
Trump, who is becoming a GOP force in national elections, said Baker has “totally abandoned the principles of the Republican Party, never cutting taxes and undermining our agenda” and he calls Diehl “a true patriot, a believer in low energy costs and our independent energy policy.”
He said Diehl is “strong on Crime, Election Integrity, our now under siege Southern Border, loves our Military, and has a big focus on taking care of our Vets … it is my honor to give him my Complete and Total Endorsement!”
While Baker ponders, a liberal field of Democratic candidates is assembling, led by progressive state Sen. Sonia Chang-Diaz, former state Sen. Benjamin Downing and political analyst and Harvard Professor Danielle Allen.
Democratic Attorney General Maura Healey is also widely thought to be considering a third term.
Diehl, who unsuccessfully ran for U.S. Senate opposite Elizabeth Warren in 2018, has also differentiated himself from Baker on issues including the Transportation Climate Initiative and the pandemic response.
He’s also vowed to stay in the race regardless of whether Baker runs for reelection or Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito steps up.
“Like President Trump, I want to ensure a strong economy fed by the success of small businesses,” Diehl said after Trump backed him. “I want families to feel safe in their communities, knowing that law enforcement is being supported with the tools and training they need. And, like the President, I want people to feel like government isn’t working against them and that they can enjoy the individual freedoms our state and country were founded upon.”
Diehl, who helped repeal the gas tax, added he’s “inspired” by Trump’s America First agenda and “plans to follow his lead.”