MA DUers who is Christy Mihos?

[WI_DEM]

According to one poll if businessman Christy Mihos runs as an Independent for Governor he will attract 21% of the vote. Democrat AG Reily leads GOP Lt. Gov. Healey by 34-27 percent, but before Mihos jumped into the race as an Independent the Democrat had an almost twenty-point lead.

It seems Mihos is hurting the Democratic candidate--is his positions on the liberal side?

[TayTay]

1. I am backing the other Dem candidate, Deval Patrick

Mihos will take from the great pool of Independent voters in the moderate camp. Those voters are the ones who have given Mass Repub govs for the last 16 years.

Independents (unenrolled in some states) are the largest voting block in Massachusetts. Republicans make up 13% of registered voters, Dem make up about 36% and the rest are not enrolled in either party. That group is always up for grabs in the general election.

[meegbear]

2. He is a repug ...

<snip>

In late 2005, Mihos began to flirt with the idea of running for Governor in 2006, under the condition that Gov. Mitt Romney would not run. After Mitt Romney announced that he would not seek re-election, Christy decided to pursue his candidacy further. Lt. Gov Kerry Healey had won the support of Mitt Romney and the majority of the State GOP for the Republican Nomination, so Mihos was concerned whether he will be given a fair shot in the primary. Healey, fearing Mihos' Candidacy as an Independent would siphon off votes in the General Election, formally guaranteed him the 15% of the delegates necessary at the State Convention to get on the Primary Ballot, if he were run as a Republican. However, Mihos announced on March 2, 2006, that he will pursue the Governor's office as an Independent.

<snip>

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christy_Mihos

He's declaring himself that to ensure he's on the ballot. Typical repug.

[seaglass]

3. A Republican running as an Independent. He's the owner

of the Christy's chain of stores (like a 7-11).

His claim to fame is being on the Mass Turnpike Authority and having a very public battle with Jane Swift (former acting governor) because he wanted to postpone toll hikes. She fired him. Went to the SJC. I think he was reinstated.

[merbex]

4. He was a Repug up til about 15 minutes ago

I am supporting Deval Patrick and I'm a delegate to the State Party Convention in June

Christy Mihos is definitely "not ready for prime time": from a MA forum thread-

But if Mihos's independent streak will appeal to some voters, it could also prove to be a liability in his campaign. His impolitic remarks yesterday at the forum, for example, raised more than a few eyebrows.

Mihos was the last gubernatorial candidate to speak. After giving his wife, Andrea, a peck on the check, he strode to the microphone and promised to be brief by saying, ''My wife says I'm awful fast, so I'll try to stick to that." The joke prompted groans from many of the 400 people in attendance.

Moments later, Mihos noted that he had been married for 31 years; he joked that he married his wife when she was 5 years old. ''That will get me points tonight, too," he said to awkward silence.

After the event, Mihos was asked by reporters about his wife having told him in the past that she didn't want him to run for public office.

''She made a deal," Mihos said. ''She said, 'You can do whatever you want as long as I can have a new wardrobe.' It's going to cost me more to fund her wardrobe than it is to fund my campaign, I think."


Want more?

Mihos kicks off independent campaign for governor
By Glen Johnson, AP Political Writer | March 2, 2006

BOSTON --Christy Mihos kicked off his independent campaign for governor Thursday, pledging that on Day One he would drive himself to work, open the front gate of the Statehouse and begin removing tolls on the Massachusetts Turnpike from Weston to the New York border.

Isn't that a heavy agenda?

Putz

[meegbear]

5. Can't get rid of the tolls for the North Shore folks?

Oh yeah, he doesn't drive that route.

[Eugene]

6. Tom Reilly keeps hurting himself without Mihos' help.

Tom Reilly makes one misstep after another. He more of a moderate anyhow.
The liberal in this race is Deval Patrick.

Christy Mihos is a Republican businessman who claimed to be a self-made man,
despite generous help from his parents. His opposition to toll hikes on the Mass.
Turnpike made him a local hero. He's no liberal. He is responsible for bringing
Mitt Romney to Massachusetts to run for governor in 2002.