The Hiller Instinct: Final Gov. Debate: Do’s and Don’ts

Deval Patrick is nursing a slender lead as the final week of the campaign begins, and Patrick is doing well to avoid the anti-incumbent fever many office holders elsewhere are feeling.

One of Patrick's strengths is keeping a distance from all the dirt in this race, and what he should do in the debate tonight is float like a butterfly to stay above it.

While the governor's friendship with the president is probably a plus in Massachusetts, Patrick should not be a mini-Obama tonight, and act as if he has all the answers and all the best solutions.

Charlie Baker needs to gain ground on Patrick. The best way to do it would be to show some heart, to go along with his anger and budget cutting axe. What Baker must not do is whine about his Big Dig e-mails, about Jeff Perry, or about anything!

Tim Cahill is nearing the end of his can-you-believe it campaign. To end it as gracefully as possible, he should stick to the issues tonight, and not attack anyone.

And please, candidate Cahill, do not try to dominate the debate. We've already heard you.

We know that Jill Stein wants taxes increased on the wealthy and single payer health care, but not much more. Tonight, Stein needs to get to some new material for her responses.

But, above all else, Stein should not give up her day job as a family practitioner.

So, there's a lot to be won and lost tonight.

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