Maura Healey’s play it safe strategy against Democratic rival not a good look

Attorney General Maura Healey is trying to quash her last remaining Democratic gubernatorial rival, Sonia Chang-Diaz, by denying her a chance to debate before the party convention and possibly elbowing her out of a spot on the ballot.

It would be a huge embarrassment for Dems and democracy if Chang-Diaz doesn’t make the ballot but it’s a possibility given Healey’s overwhelming support among activists in the party.

Chang-Diaz needs 15% of the votes at the June convention — an archaic party rule that is designed to weed out lesser known challengers.

But Chang-Diaz is a veteran state senator, the only person of color left in the race, and a legitimate candidate who deserves to be on the ballot no matter what insiders say.

Now that Healey won’t be debating before the June convention — and no, issues forums don’t count as debates — Chang-Diaz has lost her best chance to make up ground on the front-runner. And Chang-Diaz is understandably not happy about it.

“The arrogance of dodging debates is the kind of attitude that drives voters away from our party and from participation in the political process,” Chang-Diaz’s campaign said after it was rebuffed by Healey.

Chang-Diaz had proposed three live debates sponsored by media organizations before the convention. Healey agreed to none.

What Healey did agree to is two debates after the convention, which will do Chang-Diaz no good if she’s not on the ballot. Healey also will participate in two candidate issues forums but those aren’t high stakes debates. It’s essentially a Rose Garden strategy that limits opportunities exposure for Healey, who is perfectly fine to run from her powerful perch as attorney general.

While Healey supporters no doubt would love to see her sail through the primary without an opponent, it’s not a good look for the party and not a good way for Healey to prepare for a bruising general election.

Two other Democratic gubernatorial contenders — Ben Downing and Danielle Allen — have already dropped out of the race, citing fundraising and other challenges.

If Chang-Diaz is forced out, what does that say about the party, and its attitude toward people of color?

It’s also not a good look for Healey to be dodging debates. When she was the underdog running for attorney general eight years ago, she pushed for one debate a month before the primary. Now that she’s the overwhelming favorite, she’s suddenly not available to tangle with her opponent.

What could Healey possibly be afraid of?

Maybe just giving Chang-Diaz a chance at exposure and also a chance to rally progressives to her side?

The Boston state senator has had trouble raising cash and debates could also generate some momentum before the party convention.

But the biggest reason for Healey to duck is that she doesn’t want to make a big mistake, or be backed into a corner into taking an ultra-progressive position that might not play well in a general election, where independents make up a huge share of the electorate.

It’s disappointing that Healey doesn’t want to take even the slightest risk. Voters deserve more.