But before we accept the spin and damage control coming out of Boston, let's take a step back for just a moment.
One year ago, Charlie Baker was the front runner in the race for the Republican nomination for Governor and for the Office of Governor. Even high ranking Democrats would privately say that Deval was done.
Then Scott Brown won. We were ALIVE after all and we were going to kick ass come November!
At that point, the state GOP was predicting, almost guaranteeing, the Governorship ( and LT Gov obviously).
Joe DeNucci decides not to run for Auditor and we claimed that office. Same with the Treasurer office. Think back to the convention and what was talked about.
As late as this past Sunday, some GOP elites were claiming a sixty seat gain for Republicans in the House! Oh my!
So while we will now hear the spin from Boston saying "we never said it would be easy" or "we're on our way back", keep in mind that this is the same group that was riding the Charlie Baker express, while waiving at the Rep and Senate candidates that needed a lot of that money that was placed at the feet of the Coronated Team Baker.
THE EXPECTATION AFTER THE BROWN VICTORY WAS FOUR STATE OFFICES, AT LEAST ONE CONGRESSIONAL, AND A LOT, A REAL LOT OF HOUSE AND SENATE SEATS! Anyone who now says that wasn't the case is blowing smoke up your .....
So, we did double the size of the House delegation, but was that the target? This is the same as being the Olympic favorite and coming in fourth.
The MASS GOP has NO claim to the victory of those House candidates.
Please tell me, when and where did the MASS GOP get involved in House and Senate races, to the point that you received a mail piece asking you for money for them or doing a fundraiser for them? They didn't even open all the "Victory" offices that they were supposed to. And now they want credit for doubling the size of House members?
My son once doubled his scoring average in one basketball game by scoring two baskets! We also claimed victory!
The focus of the MASS GOP was always, always on Charlie Baker. It was NEVER on the grass roots in spite of what they said, even as far as forsaking the rest of the Statewide ticket.
Folks, when a party Chair sends out email messages and their picture is the most prominent thing in the message, their not trying to build a grass roots organization, despite what they are saying.
Damage Control.
That's what you're hearing and will continue to hear, because the MASS GOP fell very far from the expectations from a year ago.
Post Script. There are now FOUR, yes, just FOUR Republicans in the Senate with the loss of Tisei's seat. Some victory.
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Here's the "victory" message from the MASS GOP:
No one ever said the battle to get more Republicans elected in Massachusetts would be an easy fight, and we all knew our state would not turn purple in a single election cycle.
Yet this week’s election results prove our grassroots are growing and the GOP farm team is steadily building in the Commonwealth; On Tuesday we doubled the number of Republicans in the House of Representatives!
The MassGOP gained 17 seats in the House of Representatives for a total of 32 - more than a 100% increase. In comparison, Massachusetts Republicans gained six House seats and eight Senate seats in the 1990 election. This year every incumbent Republican won as well.
One thing we’ve always heard about Massachusetts Republicans is that we do not have substantial grassroots. For ten consecutive cycles we have lost seats in the state Legislature. Our gains in the House this cycle will give us the energy and local leadership we need to continue to grow the Party. This year we have already added 100 new Republican city and town committees, and we've laid the ground work to organize more and will need your help and activism!
I am proud of all of our GOP candidates and your efforts to help end a 20-year Republican slide in the Legislature. Our work is far from complete, but we are heading in the right direction.
Sincerely,
Chairman
Massachusetts Republican Party
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