A series of debates kick off Sept. 3 on NECN's Broadside as Massachusetts' primary election approaches.
Wednesday, Democratic primary candidates for attorney general Maura Healey and Warren Tolman debate each other. The debates continue Thursday with Donald Berwick, Martha Coakley and Steve Grossman in the Democratic primary race for governor. Republicans Charlie Baker and Mark Fisher in the GOP primary for governor conclude this week's debates on Friday.
Former Massachusetts Democratic Party chair Phil Johnston and current Massachusetts GOP chair Kirsten Hughes weighed in on the upcoming debates.
"I think that you've seen that throughout the primary that they've all run as far to the left as you can possibly get on each issue and in each debate, so they're each trying to sort of out progress progressively the other one," Hughes said about the Democratic candidates running for governor.
Can Grossman win the primary? Johnston says it's difficult to base an opinion on polling based on an estimated 10-15 percent voter turnout for the primary.
"So whoever is the best organizing is going to have, I think, the best shot at winning," he said.
Johnston also adds that the Democrats need to start bringing the gubernatorial campaign to presumptive Republican nominee Charlie Baker mark the difference between him and the party's platform.
Politics
"I think when that begins to happen, whoever our nominee is is going to go up considerably in the polling," he said.
Hughes said Charlie Baker is making it a top goal to appear in a leadership position to the people of Massachusetts ahead of his primary with tea partier Mark Fisher.
"He talked about leadership and experience, and Charlie embodies both of those," she said.
The debates start at 6 p.m. with Broadside host Jim Braude as moderator.
