Governor's race heats up in Mass.

(NECN: John Moroney) - In Massachusetts, the 2010 race for governor has heated up. The election is still about a year and a half away, but you would never know it from what has been going on the last couple of days. After years of consideration, republican Charlie Baker has decided to quit his lucrative job as CEO of Harvard Pilgrim Health Care so he can devote his full time to a 2010 Massachusetts gubernatorial bid. Baker is not well known in the state, but he is a respected and well-liked in political circles. He is considered an expert in to major issues currently facing the state: the health care crisis and she economy -- he made it clear the economy will be topping his platform: Baker: For me, it ought to be about jobs and the economy and the business climate. Because a state that can't grow jobs, and that's what I see when I look at Massachusetts right now. Baker will join convenience store magnate Christy Mihos in a primary campaign for the GOP nomination. Both are seeking to unseat incumbent Democratic Governor Deval Patrick. State Treasurer Tim Cahill left the Democratic Part Wednesday, with the intention of running as an independent against the incumbent Deval Patrick. Cahill says even although he and Baker are both fiscally conservative, and socially liberal, it won't change the way he campaigns. NECN's John Moroney has more.