Boston — Paul Loscocco, an independent candidate for lieutenant governor, endorsed Republican gubernatorial candidate Charlie Baker this morning at Baker’s headquarters in Boston.
Loscocco, who had been running with state treasurer and Democrat-turned-independent Steve Cahill, said his former running mate “cannot win” and that a vote for Cahill is a vote for the incumbent, Governor Deval Patrick.
Calling the early part of the campaign a “primary of sorts . . . in the hearts and minds of voters,” Loscocco declared that metaphorical primary “over” and said electing Baker was the “best chance at defeating Gov. Patrick.”
Cahill and Baker have been tussling for conservative votes for months. In May, the Republican Governors’ Association ran $1 million of ads against Cahill to boost Baker’s standing on the Right, but to its dismay, many of the voters who fled Cahill initially went for Patrick in the polls. Months later, Cahill has lost steam, and in Rasmussen Reports’ latest poll, Patrick leads with 47% of the vote, Baker comes in second at 42%, and Cahill trails with 6%.
Last night, Loscocco, Cahill’s running mate “after serious thought” met with Baker and decided to endorse him. This morning, he called Cahill to inform him of his decision.
The reporters at the press conference reminded both candidates of their previous spats. For instance, Loscocco compared Harvard Pilgrim Health Care — of which Baker used to be CEO — to Enron.
“The rhetoric is over,” Loscocco said, rejecting the bait. “It’s either going to be Charlie Baker or Deval Patrick.”