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GOOD MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS.
'TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME' — Attorney General Maura Healey and her Republican opponent Jay McMahon clashed yesterday over everything from opioids to guns to the State Police scandal. But at the very end, McMahon highlighted what voters will likely see as a key difference between them: Donald Trump. Healey is afflicted by what McMahon calls "Trump derangement syndrome."
WORTH WATCHING! VIDEO:
http://www.wbur.org/radioboston/2018/10/24/mass-attorney-general-debate
"She would sue the president for political expediency at the expense of our public safety. I will do just the opposite," McMahon said of Healey's 36-and-counting lawsuits against the Trump administration.
Healey disputed his claim, and pointed out a time in her career where she sued the Obama administration. But it begs the question — is suing Donald Trump really a turnoff for Massachusetts voters?
Although GOP candidates like McMahon and Senate hopeful Geoff Diehl have largely made local issues — namely opioids and corruption — central to their campaigns, they still can't resist pointing out the ways their Democratic opponents are at odds with the president.
To no small degree, it shows how weak and, in some cases, out of touch, the Mass GOP is this cycle (aside from Gov. Charlie Baker's campaign, that is). Massachusetts voters dislike the president more than any other state in the country — 62 percent of voters surveyed in September say they disapprove of his job performance. Trump's approval rating sits at just 35 percent in Massachusetts, according to a recent Morning Consult poll.
Yet two prominent statewide Republican candidates have embraced the president as if they were running in a reliably red state with a deep affinity for him. Diehl, who worked on Trump's Massachusetts campaign, has accused Sen. Elizabeth Warren of being an obstructionist unable to work with the president in Washington, and who has her eye on higher office. McMahon reminds voters that his opponent is implacably opposed to a president who won an anemic 33 percent of the vote in 2016.
It's almost like they are stuck in the primary, trying to establish their bona fides to the slice of the state GOP that supports Trump. And Trump did sweep his 2016 primary in Massachusetts with a little over 49 percent of the vote. But he lost in a landslide in the general election.
The one prominent Massachusetts Republican who keeps Trump at a safe distance? Baker, who happens to be the most popular governor in America. The second most popular governor? Another blue-state Republican, Maryland's Larry Hogan. Like Baker, his approach is to frequently challenge White House policies and keep the president at arms-length.
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TODAY — Gov. Charlie Baker and Secretary of Health and Human Services Marylou Sudders visit the Lynn Community Health Center. Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito and state Sen. Vinny deMacedo are in Plymouth for a MassWorks grant announcement.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jay Gonzalez and Rep. Jim McGovern head to Worcester for an early voting rally. Former candidate for governor Bob Massie hosts an environment fundraiser for Gonzalez at Carrie Nation. Attorney General Maura Healey does a "BBQ+A" in Northampton. Auditor Suzanne Bump takes questions in Danvers.
The Massachusetts Gaming Commission meets. Republican Senate candidate Geoff Diehl holds a presser in Plymouth. Charlotte Pence , daughter of Vice President Mike Pence, is in Norwood for a banquet hosted by pro-life group Massachusetts Citizens for Life.
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 | DATELINE BEACON HILL |
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- "Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey says she's reviewing agency report on fired Environmental Police chief," by Gintautas Dumcius, MassLive.com: "Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey, the state's top law enforcement official, said an internal agency report on Col. James McGinn, the fired head of the Environmental Police, raises 'serious concerns.' Gov. Charlie Baker's executive office of energy and environmental affairs issued a report Friday saying McGinn spied on employees through hidden taxpayer-funded cameras and the unauthorized hiring of a private investigation firm."
- "BAKER OPPOSED TO POSSIBLE FED MOVE DEFINING SEX AT BIRTH," by Katie Lannan, State House News Service: "Advocates pushing to uphold the state's transgender public accommodations law are also now rallying against a potential Trump Administration change to the legal definition of sex, a move Gov. Charlie Baker also said he'd oppose. The New York Times over the weekend reported that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is looking to establish, a uniform definition of sex as either male or female, based on the genitals a person is born with."
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| 2020 WATCH |
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- "Top Obama Allies Are Ready To Support A Deval Patrick Presidential Campaign," by Darren Sands, Buzzfeed News: "The brain trust that created the roadmap for Obama's election has long seen Patrick, the former governor of Massachusetts and longtime friend of the former president, as a transcendent political talent. ... But a half dozen people involved with Patrick's informal discussions were loath to prognosticate about what Patrick will ultimately decide, when the word from on high is to be patient. They said Patrick's decision felt like a toss-up."
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| ON THE STUMP |
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- "Rep. Clark of Massachusetts Sees Health Care as Top Issue in Midterms," Bloomberg: "Rep. Katherine Clark, a Massachusetts Democrat, discusses the prospects for Democratic candidates in the midterm elections with Bloomberg's David Westin on ' Bloomberg Markets: Balance of Power."'
- "Tedeschi seeks to unseat Congressman Keating in S'east Mass.," by Ted Nesi, WPRI: "Democratic Congressman Bill Keating and Republican challenger Peter Tedeschi met for a notably cordial debate Wednesday night, as both decried the increasing incivility of national politics while acknowledging they have their differences."
- "Laverne Cox campaigns in Boston for Question 3," by Stephanie Ebbert, Boston Globe: "Laverne Cox, whose groundbreaking role on "Orange is The New Black" made her the first transgender woman of color on mainstream TV and a two-time Emmy nominee, visited Boston Wednesday to urge voters to keep transgender individuals' rights intact by voting yes on Question 3."
- "An endowment tax would help fix the state's ailments," by Jay Gonzalez, Boston Globe: "Among the biggest challenges facing the state are an education system that's failing too many young people and a broken transportation system. Child care and preschool are unaffordable for many families, many of our public schools are underfunded, our public universities are too expensive, and our roads and bridges, regional transit services, and the MBTA need urgent improvements. If elected governor, I would propose imposing a modest tax on the robust endowments of the wealthiest private colleges and universities in Massachusetts in order to fix these systems."
- "MAYOR WALSH ENDORSES ROLLINS FOR DISTRICT ATTORNEY," from the Rollins campaign: "Citing her commitment to ensuring equal justice for all, today Mayor Martin J. Walsh endorsed Rachael Rollins for Suffolk County District Attorney. Rollins won a heavily contested Democratic Primary for District Attorney in September."
- "Talk of the Commonwealth: Katherine Clark, Democratic Congresswoman for Massachusetts 5th," Talk of the Commonwealth: "Katherine Clark is the Democratic Congresswoman from Massachusetts 5th Congressional District (which extends from Framingham to Woburn to Melrose to Cambridge). She is running for re-election in November and if elected looks to continue her work fighting the opioid crisis and student loan debt among other things. We talked to her this morning about everything going on in the 5th District, The Commonwealth, and The Country."
- "6 Questions About The Campaign Finance Ballot Measure," by Gabrielle Emanuel, WGBH News: "When volunteers fanned out across Massachusetts to collect the signatures necessary to get Ballot Question 2 on the ballot, they asked passersby: Want to overturn Citizens United? Want to get rid of unlimited corporate campaign contributions? They got enough signatures. However, what the measure would actually do is a bit less lofty. "
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| DAY IN COURT |
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- "Harvard Has Become More Racially Diverse, But Most Of Its Students Are Still Really Rich," by Max Larkin, WBUR: " As Harvard defends its admissions process in federal court, its officials and legal filings return, again and again, to the importance of diversity. There are compelling legal reasons for that emphasis. But it has drawn attention to the ways in which Harvard is — and isn't — as diverse as the nation at large. Most notably, Harvard students remain much wealthier than their non-Harvard peers."
- "TOP JUDGES WARN AGAINST REPRISALS FOR LAWFUL, BUT UNPOPULAR RULINGS," by Colin A. Young, State House News Service: "Two of the top judges in Massachusetts took issue Wednesday with recent criticism of the state's judicial system and individual judges, arguing that attacks on jurists can put judicial independence and fair access to justice at risk."
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| FROM THE HUB |
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- "A running list of World Series wagers," by Kristi Palma, Jack Pickell and Alison Goldman, Boston.com: "The World Series has arrived, and because this is a city of champions, you know the drill: Wagers will be placed between politicians, chefs, and regular fans. For your knowledge and entertainment, we're putting together a running list."
- "These Mass. couples made 'America's Top 50 Givers' list," by Joe Halpern, Boston Business Journal: "Massachusetts philanthropists Amos and Barbara Hostetter, along with Bill and Joyce Cummings, have been named to Forbes' "America's Top 50 Givers" list. The Hostetters donated $73 million last year to charitable causes, ranking No. 33 on the list, while the Cummings' donated $35 million, ranking No. 43."
- "Study: Auto insurance to feel contact high," by Alexi Cohan, Boston Herald: "Massachusetts drivers can expect to see their auto insurance rates go up thanks to legalized pot — even if they don't smoke it themselves, industry experts say, with a new study showing car crashes are on the rise in states where recreational marijuana is sold."
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| THE LOWELL CONNECTOR |
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- "Columbia Gas may not meet Nov. 19 deadline to restore service," by Milton J. Valencia, Boston Globe: "Massachusetts officials Wednesday cast doubt on the likelihood Columbia Gas would meet a November 19 deadline to restore service to some of the thousands of residents who have been without heat or hot water since the September explosions and fires rocked the Merrimack Valley. Lawrence Mayor Dan Rivera acknowledged that the work replacing appliances and heating systems is going much slower than expected because so many older homes have plumbing or electrical systems that are outdated or not up to code."
- "Senate candidate claims no foul, but still removes controversial post," by Rick Sobey, The Lowell Sun: "A Lowell state Senate candidate says posting a completed ballot of his race on Facebook is a minor issue, though his campaign deleted the post Wednesday after questions surfaced about its legality. First Middlesex District Republican candidate John MacDonald on Monday, the first day of early voting, posted a photo that reads: 'Early Voting Is Open.' In the comments section, MacDonald added a ballot of his race against Democratic candidate Edward Kennedy. The circle for MacDonald was filled in."
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| ABOVE THE FOLD |
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— Herald: "TWO UP!" — Globe: "SOX RIDE A REDEEMED PRICE," "FBI hunts sender of bombs to Democrats." |
| BEHIND THE TOFU CURTAIN |
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- "Democrat Dan Carey wins endorsement of departing state Rep. John Scibak," by Mike Plaisance, Springfield Republican:"Retiring state Rep. John Scibak Wednesday endorsed Democrat Daniel R. Carey for election to the seat Scibak has held for 16 years. 'Dan will bring a new generation of leadership to Boston, and I know he has the energy, enthusiasm and experience to effectively represent the citizens of the 2nd Hampshire District in the State House,' Scibak said in a press release issued by Carey."
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| THE LOCAL ANGLE |
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- "A Dartmouth nurse won $1 million in last night's Mega Millions drawing," by John R. Ellement and Andres Picon, Boston Globe: " The biggest ticket was sold in South Carolina, but lottery tickets worth $1 million each were sold in Bridgewater and Wilmington as part of the Mega Millions lottery drawing Tuesday and its top prize of $1.537 billion. One of the Massachusetts winners was Jennifer Santo, 40, of Dartmouth. She bought her million-dollar ticket at the Cumberland Farms store on Main Street in Bridgewater, said Christian Teja, spokesman for the Massachusetts State Lottery."
SPOTTED - Aaron Kanzer, who won a competitive 2016 primary race for state representative in the 2nd Barnstable District at age 22, in charge of the Green Monster scoreboard at Game 2 of the World Series. Pic.
MAZEL! - to Oren Cass, whose first book, "The Once and Future Worker," goes on sale Nov. 13.
ALSO MAZEL! - to Audrey Scagnelli, a former Republican communicator who leads Sanity Media, which launches today.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY - to current candidate and former Lawrence state Rep. Marcos Devers; WGBH's own Adam Reilly; Erica Mattison, executive director of Depave and former legislative director for the Environmental League of Massachusetts; and Russell Pandres,project manager at Coalition for a Better Acre in Lowell.
DID THE HOME TEAM WIN? Yes! The Red Sox beat the Dodgers 4-2 in Game 2 of the World Series.
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