(This has to be brought back. The outrage over Richard Tisei and his candidacy for LG is extremely interesting. It's been a few months now so why hasn't somebody on that side stepped forward to challenge him? One GOP operative told me that they find the outrage with no vehicle to be "a rookie move that is causing unnecessary friction."
Now that Jeff Perry is running for congress that leaves only...Karyn Polito? DeMacedo? Somebody with deep pockets?
The caucuses and meetings for delegates are taking place now. The clock is ticking for all the Tisei Haters to do something other than bitch and post on RMG. - promoted by Garrett Quinn)
Assuming Baker wins the primary there is no guarantee that Tisei will be his running mate in the general election. It is still early and a primary for lieutenant governor is not out of the question. Joe Sheehan and DD4RP have posted extensively about the potential candidates for lieutenant governor. Now that Baker has selected Tisei none of them will likely consider running for lieutenant governor because the party establishment is backing Baker-not surprising due to all the bridge burning done by Christy Mihos in 2006-and most elected state Republicans will be weary of rocking that boat.
Oops, almost forgot...there is this bro named Jeff Perry who represents the Fifth Barnstable District and he makes sweet YouTube videos.
Perry has shown signs for the last year that he is trying to expand his profile beyond his district. It started with his brief challenge last November to Minority Leader Brad Jones and continued with his new book about the state of the GOP. Perry has lectured about the future of the party frequently at state colleges. He is still well liked by the small but very active and vocal contingent of the social conservative wing of the party due to his position on gay marriage. He has a strong rating from CLT and has pushed hard to implement the 2000 income tax rollback all the way to 5%.
A primary race for lieutenant governor between Perry and Tisei would be an exciting and entertaining undercard in the 2010 campaign. It would set up a race between both the moderate wing and the more conservative wing of the party. If Perry announces a candidacy it would likely melt the servers of RMG and set off an argument between conservatives, moderates, and libertarians that would make the discussion over Tisei's candidacy look tame. The downside to a primary is that two legislative seats would be vacant in the 2010 election instead of one. Perry is the only Republican on Cape Cod and his representative district is within Senate President Therese Murray's senate district; a strong Democratic challenge to fill the seat would be likely.
In Massachusetts no Republican held seat is safe and the GOP can't afford to lose ANY seats.
Note: It doesn't appear that the Mihos campaign will create their own primary ticket. His campaign declined to comment on the Tisei pick when I asked them. (Their response was simply, "No.")
