As race tightens, Baker hits Patrick on welfare program; Patrick says Baker 'wrong again'

[Ian David]

John Tlumacki / Globe Staff
Governor Deval Patrick's bus tour stopped at his Brockton headquarters today where he met Girl Scout Delenn Brumberger, 8, from Brockton. Patrick told an aide to buy some Girl Scout cookies but to keep the order under $50.

With a flurry of new polls showing a tight race, Republican challenger Charles D. Baker attacked incumbent Democratic Governor Deval Patrick over the state’s welfare program this morning, blaming the Democrat for giving recipients access to “booze, cash, cigarettes, and/or lottery tickets.”

Patrick, who started barnstorming the state on a three-day bus tour, quickly hit back on the issue, noting that the current welfare debit card system -- which replaced checks -- was created in 1997 when Baker served as the state’s chief budget officer and that Republicans are now blocking recent efforts supported by Patrick to curb the program.

"He’s wrong again,” Patrick said, noting that he had filed a bill to clamp down on the practice. “This may be one area where we agree some reform is warranted.”

Several new polls have shown Patrick leading Baker, though not by much. A Suffolk University/Channel 7 poll released last night showed Patrick with 7 percentage point lead. Patrick leads Baker by 3 percentage points in a Statehouse News poll released this morning, and by 1 percentage point in a Rasmussen poll. (The lead in the Rasmussen poll grows to 2 percent when so-called leaners, who initially express no preference, are included).

More:
http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2010/10/_with_a_flurry.html

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