Although his favorability numbers have swung to the negative, Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick, a first-term Democrat, wins match-ups with Republicans Charlie Baker and Christy Mihos, both of whom are contending for the GOP nomination, according to a Suffolk University poll conducted Sept. 12-15. Patrick also comes out on top of state Treasurer Tim Cahill, an independent candidate who fares better in the poll than either Republican.

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Baker, who heads Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, is a newcomer to politics. Mihos is a businessman who unsuccessfully ran for governor in 2006 as an independent.

As with many governors, the economic squeeze on the states has taken its toll on Patrick, with 45 percent of voters now seeing him unfavorably compared to 42 percent who have a positive view of him.

But in a Patrick-Baker-Cahill match-up, Patrick polls 36 percent, Cahill gets 23 percent and Baker draws 14 percent, with 26 percent undecided. With Mihos substituted for Baker, Patrick has 36 percent, Cahill is at 24 percent and Mihos draws 17 percent of the vote.

Fifty-four percent of voters say they do not think the state would be better off with a Republican governor.

Baker outpolls Mihos in a GOP primary, 43 percent to 19 percent with 38 percent undecided.

Suffolk's David Paleologos said if Cahill and Baker prove to be strong candidates, "Patrick gets another term."


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