The Hiller Instinct: Gov. Debate: Winners and Losers

They both went for knock-outs:

“Health care costs are the single biggest concern of businesses. It's what I hear everywhere, and you’ve been at the center of that. You’ve raised premiums 150 percent,” Gov. Patrick said.

“I’m not going to raise taxes. I think we need to cut taxes, and I’m the only candidate who's actually put a series of serious reforms on the table to cut spending,” said Baker.

Patrick and Baker continued their back-and-forth:

Patrick: “And we ended abuse on the pension system.”
Baker: “That was a bunt. We should have been swinging away. We still have a $22 billion unfunded liability.”
Patrick: “You call it a bunt? You never even swung at the ball.”

And they exchanged big blows over the Big Dig:

“Let’s talk about the mother of all drags on the future, which the Big Dig financing plan. We've been dealing with that in this administration and other administrations have and will, because of judgments that you made, Charlie,” said Gov. Patrick.

"The same financing plan, by the way, that you use to fund your bridge acceleration program, and that the Treasurer said was a prudent investment," said Baker.

Both major candidates also showed weak spots: At times, Baker was whiny and didn’t look gubernatorial, while Patrick was cloying, complimenting his rivals who want his job.

And Cahill could never really get in the debate:

“I think I’ll let these two guys fight it out,” said Cahill.

A fight Stein says we’ve already seen:

“This is the kind of bickering thatwe’ve come to expect from business as usual on Beacon Hill,” said Stein.

Winners and losers? We had two of each.

I'd call this debate a tie between Baker and Patrick. Both were well-prepared; both may have won some votes.

Cahill and Stein were the losers. Both of them have to figure out a way to be relevant in this race, or both will turn into campaign furniture.

And for all the candidates, what’s most important about the debate is that once and for all--this race is on!

I’m Andy Hiller, and that’s my instinct.

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