The Republican candidate for Massachusetts governor is making a big pitch to women, but has a lot of work to do. Charlie Baker trails well behind his Democratic opponent among female voters.
Recent polls show Democratic Attorney General Martha Coakley has a 20-point lead on Baker with women. In Baker’s first run for governor in 2010, he lost that key demographic by 24 points.
This time around, Baker chose a woman as his running mate, former state Representative Karyn Polito. And Baker’s wife Lauren and 17-year-old daughter Caroline are campaigning for him.
“My dad is the guy that cries over Extreme Makeover Home Edition,” Caroline said at a “Women for Charlie” event this week.
Caroline is also in a TV ad for Baker, discussing his moderate positions.
“You’re totally pro-choice and bipartisan,” she tells her dad.
That argument is close to winning over Elaine White, who says she often votes for Democrats but attended the event.
“Because Charlie Baker’s social agenda really does, there are some liberal leanings there,” White says. “Certainly matches Martha Coakley’s agenda. That got me to look at him.”
“I don’t think Charlie Baker’s strategy will be successful,” says Martha Walz, president of Planned Parenthood of Massachusetts and a member of Coakley’s Women’s Leadership Council. “Women can see that Martha Coakley has prioritized the improvement of their lives and economic security throughout her career.”
That wasn’t enough in the 2010 special election for U.S. Senate. Polls showed Coakley leading Scott Brown among women by single digits, and she still lost.
The lesson from that for Charlie Baker: He doesn’t have to win Massachusetts women. He just has to narrow the margin.