GOP Challenger to Warren to Launch Full-Time Campaign - promises to 'Put Massachusetts First'

[DonViejo]

A conservative Massachusetts state representative says he’ll officially launch his challenge to Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren full-time in August. Rep. Geoff Diehl, who co-chaired President Donald Trump’s campaign in the state, told the Boston Herald Wednesday that he will begin campaigning full-time on Aug. 1.

The Whitman Republican has long been a foe of Warren’s, making stops across the Bay State while mocking her for traveling across the country to promote her book. Diehl’s campaign website says he “has promised to be a full time Senator not a part-time author.”

State Democratic Party leaders called on Diehl to step down as co-chair of Trump’s campaign last summer but he refused, saying the move was a distraction from “flawed” candidate Hillary Clinton. And Diehl seems to be replicating some of Trump’s campaign slogans, with a section on his website titled, “Put Massachusetts First.” The description says Diehl will “travel the Commonwealth to work with you and make Massachusetts great again.”

-snip-

Warren’s re-election campaign said the Democrat raised more than $3.4 million during the second quarter of this year. This was lower than the January-March period, when she brought in $5.2 million, but still gives her an advantage over any challenger.

http://www.rollcall.com/news/politics/republican-state-representative-to-challenge-sen-elizabeth-warren

[Demsrule86]

1. she needs to be careful...the polls have been 'iffy' She needs to consider her re-election

and not national politics.

[a kennedy]

2. Nervous about Tammy Baldwin of WIsconsin as well.

Repubs targeting her seat.

[Justice]

3. Diehl is tied to Trump. That alone may sink him.

Diehl was only lawmaker in State House to publicly back Trump during the Republican primary. Co-chair of Trump’s MA campaign. So he cannot run from Trump. People in MA will see him as advancing Trump's agenda.

Some point to fact Trump won MA primary with nearly half the vote over 4 other candidates as evidence he is popular in MA. Trump, 49% or about 311,000 votes. Kasich and Rubio tied for second with 18%, Cruz 10%, Carson 3%. Total GOP votes in primary - about 631,395 votes total.

In DEM primary, Clinton won with 603,784 votes and Bernie Sanders came in close second with 586,716 votes. That's right, Hillary got almost 2x the votes that Trump did in primaries.

Hillary crushed Trump in MA in general election. She got 1,964,768 votes. Trump got about a million.

Diehl too far right to win statewide in MA. His history:

-- First elected in 2010 - beat Democratic incumbent but from pocket of MA that has elected GOP in past (Andy Card's old seat).
-- Since elected, leads tiny group of MA conservatives in MA state house.
-- Not well liked among establishment GOP in MA - considered a "needle" in the side of his own party.
-- defines himself as "conservative" not as GOP.

National Republicans are reportedly not enthusiastic about a Diehl candidacy.

Charlie Baker, MA GOP Governor - is a moderate, not a Trump fan, he is up for reelection in 2018 If a Republican candidate on the shared ticket veers too far right, it could both depress moderate turnout that could boost Baker and excite liberal turnout that could aid his as-yet-undetermined Democratic challenger.