By JOSH RESNEK
Talk is swirling about that Governor Charlie Baker may not seek a third term and he is pondering handing the position to Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito, according to the Boston Herald political columnist Joe Battenfield.
Polito has been one of the highest-profile, hardest working Lt. Governors in modern history.
Many had been expecting that Baker won’t go for a third term and that he would support a Polito bid for governor.
Battenfeld’s Monday opinion piece emphasized that and noted as well that Baker has not raised much money for his political account, raising only $885 last month.
He also noted that Polito has more than $2 million in her campaign account.
Baker, for almost 7 years, has been the most popular governor serving in the United States.
His popularity ratings in Massachusetts have remained extremely high, with Democrats and Republicans alike feeling positive about his brand of leadership.
The COVID-19 virus has caused a bit of the luster to come off his unusually high favorability ratings.
During the pandemic, they have gone down by about 10%.
Battenfeld wrote that Polito is popular but that she hadn’t set out on her own path and instead had followed Baker’s.
What else is a Lt. Governor with ambitions to do?
Would Polito like to be governor? You bet she would.
Are there many people in this state at all levels of government and the media who would like to see her elevated?
It is all up to Charlie (Battenfeld wrote).
Polito has been loyal to Baker.
Baker will show loyalty to Polito.
Besides, he believes in her.