Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker is the most popular governor in America and he has interesting supporters in New Bedford...including Democrats.

Money is crucial in politics and maybe even more so in Massachusetts, due to the high cost of advertising. Governor Baker has built up a strong following as a bipartisan deal maker and an anti-Trumper among the liberal voters of Massachusetts.

He has found financial supporters in the Greater New Bedford area, including people who traditionally side with the Democratic Party. This is an important development, and shows why Setti Warren quit the race for the Democratic nomination last month, citing his inability to raise money to compete against Baker in November.

Donors to Baker's campaign include:

NEIL MELLO: The Chief of Staff to New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell gave the Republican Governor $300 on March 14, 2018. He gave Baker $250 in December 2017 on top of the $500 he contributed in March of the same year.

JOSEPH FINNERTY: The now-retired head of the New Bedford Housing Authority gave Baker $250 in April 2018. He previously contributed a combined $400 over 2017 and 2018.

WILLIAM BURNS: The longtime top staffer to Sen. Mark Montigny and briefly an advisor to Mayor Mitchell is now at SouthCoast Hospital Group, and he donated $200 to Baker in February 2017.

GEORGE ROGERS: The former senator, mayor, city councillor, and state representative gave Baker $200 in 2017 in two separate donations.

MARGUERITE LANG: The wife of former New Bedford Mayor Scott Lang gave contributed $250 to the Baker campaign in 2016. She served as a staffer to a California congressman prior to marrying her husband, and has her own political identity.

BRUCE OLIVEIRA: The New Bedford School Committee member and his political committee each donated $100 to Baker in 2017. He also serves on the New Bedford Housing Authority Board of Commissioners.

TIMOTHY WALSH: The attorney and Chairman of the New Bedford Housing Authority Board of Commissioners donated $250 to Gov. Baker on January 26, 2018.

CHRISTOPHER HENDRICKS: Another attorney, he is running against Rep. Robert Koczera as a Democrat, and he contributed $100 to Baker in June 2017.

KIMBERLY SAUNDERS: She is a CPA and an elected member of the New Bedford Board of Assessors, and she contributed $1000 to Charlie Baker on February 12, 2017.

These donors serve as an example of the strength the Republican Governor of Massachusetts has in New Bedford, and why it is a tough year to be a Democrat running against him. Stay tuned for more towns and more interesting names.

Chris McCarthy is the host of The Chris McCarthy Show on 1420 WBSM New Bedford. He can be heard weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon. Contact him at chris.mccarthy@townsquaremedia.com and follow him on Twitter @Chris_topher_Mc. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author.

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