Republican Charlie Baker kicks off gubernatorial campaign

(NECN: Alison King) – Republican Charlie Baker kicked off his gubernatorial campaign today with an online video to supporters. Charlie Baker: “When it comes to bringing change – I am two things: fearless and determined. And as your Governor, I will be both.” In his first video to supporters, found on his new website, Massachusetts republican Charlie Baker makes his pitch for the state’s top job saying he has twice engineered turnarounds. First as finance chief in the Weld and Carlucci administrations and second, when – as the CEO of Harvard Pilgrim – he pulled the health care company back from near bankruptcy. Charley Manning: He could be one of the best Governor’s we’ve ever had when you look at his background, his experience and his accomplishments. On Wednesday, Baker will make it official when he files his candidacy papers with the state. Charlie Baker: Government spending is up by billions – new taxes are kicking in. Massachusetts is on the wrong track and Beacon Hill has no idea how to fix it. In fact, they’re making it worse. They’ve turned a crisis into a calamity. The Massachusetts Democratic Party, headed by Governor Patrick’s 2006 campaign manager, quickly shot back with its own website, accusing Baker of allowing the 15-billion dollar Big Dig project to escalate in price during the 1990s when Baker was finance chief for Weld and Cellucci. Others feel a bigger challenge for Baker will be going up against the colorful Christy Mihos, the wealthy republican baker will face in the primary and the charismatic Deval Patrick. The latest polls don’t offer great news for Deval Patrick. His favorability ratings are in the mid thirties and the poll shows he is in a statistical dead heat with his two Republican rivals: Baker and Mihos. Then there’s treasurer Tim Cahill – a conservative democrat who changed his party affiliation a few weeks ago to independent – presumably as he prepares for his own gubernatorial bid.