National GOP group launches launches nearly $2M ad blitz against Mass. governor, an Obama ally

National GOP spends $2M on Mass. gov race ads

BOSTON — The Republican Governors Association is airing nearly $2 million worth of negative ads in the Massachusetts governor’s race against one of President Barack Obama’s close Democratic allies, Gov. Deval Patrick.

The RGA is hoping to boost Republican candidate Charles Baker by reprising the strategy it used to help Chris Christie win last year against Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine of New Jersey.

Patrick’s campaign manager dismissed the effort, even though a similar $2 million round of RGA advertising this summer allowed Baker to narrow the gap on the governor.

The new ad no longer mentions independent candidate Timothy Cahill. He threatens to split the anti-Patrick vote and has been battling Baker for the votes of fiscal conservatives.

RGA spokesman Chris Schrimpf (SHRIMPF) says Cahill is fading and it’s “really becoming a two-person race.”