News: The presidential ties that bind

Monday, October 31, 2022

The presidential ties that bind

Oct 31, 2022

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TRUMP, BIDEN LOOM OVER ELECTION'S FINAL DAYS — Geoff Diehl has spent his entire campaign for governor answering questions about his support for Donald Trump. But, as he correctly pointed out on WBZ's "Keller @ Large" on Sunday, rival Maura Healey has faced comparatively few about Joe Biden.

"I haven't seen my opponent ... looking to get it publicly out there that she's either supporting Joe Biden or that he supports her in this race. I think that's more relevant," Diehl said in response to host Jon Keller's query on whether he regrets pursuing the former president's endorsement.

Healey's campaign effectively responded to that by announcing Vice President Kamala Harris would come to Boston on Wednesday for an evening get-out-the-vote rally with Healey and other Democrats including her running mate, Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll, and attorney general nominee Andrea Campbell. State Sen. Diana DiZoglio's campaign said the auditor nominee is expected to be there as well.

There's no question that Trump is deeply unpopular in the Bay State. Just 26 percent of likely Massachusetts voters surveyed in a mid-month Suffolk University poll viewed him favorably, compared to 66 percent who viewed him unfavorably.

Biden's support here is middling. Just over half of respondents, 52 percent, view the president favorably, compared to 44 percent who held a negative view. Less than half, 49 percent, approved of Biden's job performance.

Contrast that with GOP Gov. Charlie Baker — who the latest Suffolk and UMass Amherst polls show with nearly 70 percent approval ratings — and you see one reason why it's Baker, not Biden, who's a regular fixture in Healey's stump speeches.

Diehl also declined to comment on what Keller described as "completely unsubstantiated allegations against Attorney General Healey claiming that she improperly combined her professional life with her personal life." MassGOP Chair Jim Lyons has been publicizing the allegations, which Playbook has not substantiated, through party press releases.

"I'm not going to comment until something is substantiated. Quite honestly, anything that happens in the workplace with relationships is certainly open to questioning, but until there is something substantiated, really not for me to comment on," Diehl said. He also said that "keeping our personal lives out of the campaign is important. And I think the attorney general and I have tried to make sure this race is above board and about the issues."

Having the Republican gubernatorial nominee not take the bait offered by his party's leader helps further neutralize allegations that the State Police Association of Massachusetts already dismissed as being presented with "no corroborating information." Healey's campaign declined comment on Sunday.

GOOD HALLOWEEN MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. Seems like dressing up as the Orange Line on fire is a pretty popular costume this year . Doesn't seem like anyone used those flame-colored wigs for a Charlie Baker hair-on-fire costume, though.

TODAY — Sen. Ed Markey and Rep. Seth Moulton celebrate coastal resiliency efforts at 11 a.m. in Newburyport. Rep. Richard Neal celebrates a new grant at 2 p.m. at Springfield's Union Station.

Tips? Scoops? Have more politically themed Halloween costumes? Email me: lkashinsky@politico.com .

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CAMPAIGN MODE

— BAKER'S NOT ABANDONING AMORE: MassDems Chair Gus Bickford is calling on Gov. Charlie Baker to rescind his endorsement of Republican auditor nominee Anthony Amore over new reporting about the turmoil surrounding his more than decade-old divorce. But Baker, an adviser confirmed to Playbook on Sunday, is sticking with Amore.

Court documents, first reported by NBC10 Boston , show Amore faced a temporary restraining order and had to temporarily forfeit his gun to police. His ex-wife also alleged verbal and emotional abuse. The Department of Children and Families initially supported a report expressing concerns about the gun, but later reversed its decision and said the complaint should have been unsupported, according to news reports.

Amore said on WCVB's "On the Record" that "any allegation against me was unsubstantiated." But his oldest daughter told the Boston Globe in an article published Saturday that "there is nothing in the affidavit that is false or in any way an elaboration or misrepresentation of what was happening in my home."

Bickford is leaning on the daughter's statement in calling on Baker to pull his endorsement and for Massachusetts Majority, a Baker-linked super PAC, to "immediately cease spending" on Amore's behalf, according to a statement shared first with Playbook. Baker, again, isn't biting.

— FROM THE OPINION PAGES: The Boston Globe editorial board has endorsed Amore for auditor. The Springfield Republican editorial board handed Maura Healey her third editorial board endorsement for governor over the weekend.

— "How the candidates for Massachusetts governor would tackle health care," by Priyanka Dayal McCluskey, WBUR: "The vast majority of Massachusetts residents have health insurance, but 41% had trouble paying for health care last year, according to a state survey. [Maura] Healey and [Geoff] Diehl both say they want to make care more affordable. Healey says she would do this through greater accountability and oversight of the health care industry, though she didn't specify how. … Diehl's campaign manager, Amanda Orlando, said he wants to give consumers more information and more choices of health insurance plans and hospitals."

— More: Healey and Diehl also addressed economic questions during separate appearances at a Massachusetts Association of Community Development Corporations gathering in Worcester, the Boston Globe's Laura Crimaldi and the Telegram & Gazette's Marco Cartolano report. They both said housing affordability is their top concern. And they both expressed support for some of Baker's policies. Healey touted Baker's small-business programs. And Diehl said he supports Baker's regulations designed to increase multifamily housing in communities with MBTA service, despite prior reports that he would try to repeal them. His campaign manager, Amanda Orlando, said Diehl "supports the concept but feels it needs more local partnership and input from the towns impacted."

— "Ballot drop boxes in Boston to close for Halloween," by CBS Boston: "Ballot drop boxes in Boston will be closed on Monday because of Halloween. Other communities are also closing them at various times Monday to prevent potential vandalism. The Secretary of State's office directed cities and towns to empty and close unattended ballot drop boxes no later than 5 p.m."

DATELINE BEACON HILL

— "Billions in state tax refunds to start flowing to taxpayers on Tuesday, officials say," by Matt Stout, Boston Globe: "State officials said they intend to begin sending taxpayers their share of a $3 billion refund when the calendar flips to November on Tuesday, kicking off a roughly six-week process of doling out checks and direct deposits to millions of taxpayers. Eligible taxpayers will receive their refunds on a rolling, random basis, Governor Charlie Baker's budget official said late Friday afternoon. Anyone who has filed a 2021 tax return, and incurred a tax liability, will automatically receive a refund by December 15, officials said."

— "Mass. state workers rehired after COVID vaccine mandate firings not being offered back pay," by Alison Kuznitz, MassLive: "The nearly 50 former Massachusetts state workers who lost their jobs last year to Gov. Charlie Baker's COVID-19 mandate should not expect guaranteed back pay if they accept the commonwealth's recent offers of reinstated employment."

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FROM THE HUB

— "Felix G. Arroyo lawsuit advances, with new details from 2017 investigation," by Sean Philip Cotter, Boston Herald: "The city investigation that led to the firing of Felix G. Arroyo didn't conclude that he had assaulted or had sex with his employee, according to a judge's filing in a set of lawsuits surrounding the former city health chief. Suffolk Superior Judge Patrick Haggan has allowed Arroyo's defamation countersuit to survive a motion to throw it out as the assorted cases head toward what is expected to be a high-profile trial next year."

— "Two months into the school year, Boston schools struggle to fill more than 800 vacancies," by James Vaznis and Christopher Huffaker, Boston Globe: "More than 800 teaching and other positions remain vacant across Boston Public Schools two months into the school year, as the district grapples with an acute labor shortage nationwide and expands its workforce. The vacancies extend into far-ranging corners of BPS, including administrative offices, classrooms, and cafeterias, and encompass about 175 teaching positions."

THE NATIONAL TAKE

— AS SEEN ON TV: Rep. Richard Neal remains "optimistic" Democrats can retain control of Congress in the midterms. He doesn't have much of a choice — if Republicans win control of the House, Neal, the Ways and Means chair, loses his powerful perch. "I'm hardly prepared to take a backseat, not after all these years, I can tell you that," Neal said at the top of his interview on WCVB's "On the Record." Neal has his own reelection fight to win against Republican Dean Martilli. The Springfield Republican's Jim Kinney has more on that race.

Neal also said on OTR that he's "likely" to vote for ballot Question 1 , the so-called millionaires tax, and will vote "yes" on ballot Question 4 to keep the law that allows undocumented immigrants access to driver's licenses. Neal, who moved closer this week to securing Donald Trump's tax returns , said he "wouldn't discount" the possibility of the former president running again in 2024 even if he's indicted.

— "New Hampshire isn't feeling the 2024 love," by Lisa Kashinsky, POLITICO: "The stream of would-be presidential hopefuls that typically flows through New Hampshire has slowed to a trickle ahead of November. Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) haven't set foot in the state since the summer. Former Vice President Mike Pence headlined a fundraiser for Republican Senate nominee Don Bolduc the day after the state's Sept. 13 primary and never came back. Former President Donald Trump has endorsed both Republican House candidates but is nowhere to be seen. The cast of characters has dwindled on the Democratic side, too. President Joe Biden has been to reliably blue Massachusetts more times this year than to purple New Hampshire, which he last visited in April."

A message from Delta Dental of Massachusetts:

THE LOCAL ELECTIONS ROUNDUP

— "Sheriff candidate, Attleboro Mayor Paul Heroux, to appeal labor board ruling against city," by Frank Mulligan, Standard-Times: "Bristol County Sheriff candidate and Attleboro Mayor Paul Heroux said he will be appealing a recent decision by the state Dept. of Labor Relations finding that he had made 'coercive' comments during a dispute with the Attleboro firefighters' union."

— "Bristol County Sheriff Under Ethics Review After Complaint Filed by Opponent," by Kate Robinson, WBSM: "Bristol County Sheriff Thomas Hodgson's campaign is under review by the State Ethics Commission following a complaint about alleged misuse of taxpayer resources filed by his opponent in the upcoming election."

— WATCH: Heroux and Hodgson's sole televised debate , moderated by WPRI's Tim White and Ted Nesi. The debate was held via Zoom because Heroux tested positive for Covid-19.

— "In Plymouth County DA Race, long-time incumbent faces high-profile insurgent," by Saraya Wintersmith, GBH News: "Voters across Plymouth County will decide Nov. 8 whether to keep Massachusetts' only Republican district attorney or elect a Democratic reformer to replace him. The matchup pits District Attorney Timothy Cruz, who has held the office since 2001, against progressive Rahsaan Hall, who built a name and network working in Boston, most recently as director of the ACLU of Massachusetts' racial justice program. In one of Massachusetts' more conservative counties, the national conversation on progressive prosecutors is permeating the local election."

BALLOT BATTLES

— FROM THE OPINION PAGES: "The face of opposition to Question 1 admits proposed tax wouldn't hurt him much: 'I'm not struggling'," by Yvonne Abraham, Boston Globe: "Harwich Cranberry farmer Leo Cakounes has become the face of opposition to Question 1, the ballot measure that would raise taxes on the state's highest earners — up from 5 to 9 percent for any income exceeding a million dollars. … A search of Registry of Deeds records across the state reveals the Republican former local politician, sometime radio and podcast host, tour operator, and farmer is sitting on property worth millions, including rental properties in Harwich and Belchertown. He estimates his home and the land on which it sits are worth $3 million. … Even if Question 1 passes, he will be fine personally, he said. 'Yes, I may have to pay an extra $40,000 [in taxes],' he said. 'Is that gonna kill me? No, that's not gonna kill me. I'm more upset at the message this is sending to the rest of the country.'"

PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES

— "Key lawmaker calls for restructuring MBTA," by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Magazine: "[State Rep. William] Straus [House chair of the Transportation Committee] said he believes the bandwidth of MBTA management is spread too thin. He proposes narrowing the focus of the MBTA to just bus and subway service and spinning off passenger rail, ferries, and major capital projects on their own or as part of some other agency of state government."

— "MBTA to install $80M underground cable network to prevent train collisions," by Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald.

— "Valley Flyer rail service to become permanent," by Julian Mendoza, Daily Hampshire Gazette.

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DAY IN COURT

— "In ruling, judge finds Mass. police sergeant promotional exams to be discriminatory," by Danny McDonald, Boston Globe: "A Suffolk Superior Court judge this week found the promotional process used to determine who becomes a police sergeant in Massachusetts is racist and impractical, asserting that it skews too heavily on a multiple-choice exam that fails to reflect the rigors and realities of the job."

MARIJUANA IN MASSACHUSETTS

— "An opportunity to make cannabis industry more equitable," by Shira Schoenberg, CommonWealth Magazine: "The marijuana equity law Gov. Charlie Baker signed in August created a Social Equity Trust Fund, which will offer grants and loans to participants in equity programs, generally those from communities disproportionately affected by prior drug law enforcement. Applications are now open for seats on the advisory board that will advise the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development on administering the fund."

THE LOCAL ANGLE

— "Natick and its police continue to bury allegations of sexual assault against one of their own," by Ally Jarmanning and Todd Wallack, WBUR: "Experts say the lack of accountability may be especially a problem in states like Massachusetts, where records of police misconduct are often hidden from the public. A controversial privacy law orders police to keep secret arrests or reports of sexual or domestic violence. No other state has such a sweeping law."

— "White supremacist group rallies against migrants housed at Kingston hotel," by Bryan Lambert, Boston 25 News: "A group of protesters gathered outside the Kingston hotel where a group of migrants are being housed Sunday. Viewer video sent into Boston 25 shows the men displaying a banner identifying them as members of the Nationalist Social Club 131, an organization the Anti-Defamation League classifies as a Neo-Nazi group."

A message from Delta Dental of Massachusetts:

Delta Dental of Massachusetts connects with communities statewide to highlight the importance of oral health. Your oral health is a key predictor of overall health — with direct links to diabetes, heart disease, mental health, and other medical conditions. So, this fall, remind your loved ones – and yourself – to show your mouth some love. Get back to the dentist and remember to practice at-home preventive oral health habits like brushing and flossing regularly. Because the key to good health is right under your nose. Discover the connection between oral and overall health at ExpressYourHealthMA.org.

EX-PATS

— END OF AN ERA: Tom Brady and Gisele Bundchen announced Friday they had "finalized" their divorce. How did they split up their multi-million dollar empire so quickly? Probably a prenup, legal experts tell the Boston Globe's Travis Andersen .

— "Patriots owner Robert Kraft unveils new TV spot to combat antisemitism," by WCVB.

HEARD 'ROUND THE BUBBLAH

REWIND — I joined Axios' Mike Deehan and GBH's Adam Reilly on "Talking Politics" to talk about how Gov. Charlie Baker is flexing his political muscle ahead of November.

TRANSITIONS — The Boston Globe's Jenna Russell will be the New York Times' next New England bureau chief .

HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to Samantha Ormsby, POLITICO's Michael Kruse, Alexandra Pigeon and Boston Globe columnist Yvonne Abraham.

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