Govs. Charlie Baker of Massachusetts and Larry Hogan of Maryland joined Gov. Phil Scott on a Zoom call Thursday evening to drum up support for Vermont’s Republican governor ahead of the November general election.
The call was moderated by Rep. Heidi Scheuermann, R-Stowe, and streamed on Facebook.
The three governors had a wide-ranging discussion about managing the Covid-19 crisis and governing as Republicans in blue states.
The moderate Republicans, who have been frequent critics of President Donald Trump, also stressed the importance of civility in politics.
The governors did not directly discuss Trump on Thursday’s call, which started just hours before a debate between the president and Democatic presidential candidate Joe Biden.
But Hogan and Baker both said that they and Scott, who have among the highest approval ratings in the country, are so popular because they avoid divisive politics.
Hogan said that the governors don’t deploy “angry rhetoric and name calling.”
“In our very Democratic states I think people are rewarding us and appreciating the way we go about respecting each other, and being willing to work together with everybody and listen,” Hogan said.
Baker echoed these comments.
“If you look around America, you’ll discover that most of the governors who seem to do well with their electorate tend to be people who can work with everybody and who focus more on the work and a little less on the noise,” Baker said. “And I don’t think that’s a coincidence,” he added.
Scott said treating others with “dignity and respect” has been among the most important things in his political life.
“We desperately need better role models in this country, in our lives, because we have to realize our kids are watching, and they want to be just like us,” he said.
Baker praised Scott’s management of the Covid-19 pandemic, and Vermont’s low Covid-19 infection rate. He and Hogan urged Vermonters to vote for Scott.
“Part of the reason I want to see Phil get reelected is, I like him and I think he’s a good man,” Baker said.
“But I also believe he does get up every day worrying about what’s in the best interest of Vermont and Vermonters. And he does work with across the aisle — he’s got a whole career full of that,” Baker said.
“I think America needs to have leaders like Phil Scott and Charlie Baker reelected to office,” Hogan said.
“This is what America needs more people that are willing to get things done and work together and have a more civil dialogue,” he added.
Scott is facing Lt. Gov. David Zuckerman, a Progressive/Democrat, in the general election which will be held on Nov. 3.
At the end of the call Thursday evening, Scott said that the governors’ discussion “is what politics should be.”
“People don’t want political gamesmanship, they just want solutions,” Scott said.