A fiscal and social conservative, King was anti-abortion and supported capital punishment, offshore drilling, increased nuclear power, greater research on solar energy, less business regulation, raising the drinking age to 21, and mandatory sentences for drug dealers.

She criticized the governor for failing to deliver adequate human services, not cutting the cost of government, and not attracting new jobs.

[20] He believed that the real issues of the campaign were property tax relief, creating jobs and improving the state's economy, welfare reform, revamping auto insurance, and making government more open.

[11] In November 1977, party chairman Gordon M. Nelson leaked a poll of Republican campaign contributors that showed Richardson was the top choice for governor with 47% followed by Edward F. King with 27%, Hatch with 18%, former governor Francis W. Sargent with 7%, and Middlesex County Sheriff John J. Buckley with 2%.

[11] King focused his early campaign on winning the Republican state convention, which he believed would catapult him through the primary and victory over Dukakis in the general election.

In addition to having the same name, the two Kings also had similar political positions (they both ran as pro-business, anti-tax conservatives) and both attended Boston College (Edward J.

Physically, the two were not alike, as the Democratic King was large (six feet tall) and quiet, while the Republican was five foot-six and described as "fiery".

Buckley believed that as a fiscal conservative who was liberal on social issues, he was the best Republican candidate to beat Dukakis.

Buckley reiterated his opposition to the death penalty and promised to veto any attempts to eliminate abortions.

[27] He later entered the race for the United States House of Representatives seat in Massachusetts's 5th congressional district, which was being vacated by Paul Tsongas.

Hatch, on the other hand, ignored King and focused his attack on the Democratic frontrunner and incumbent governor Michael Dukakis.

Due to the presence of a conservative Democrat and a liberal Republican in the race, there were some members of each party that endorsed the other's candidate.

William A. Casey, the Republican nominee for Massachusetts State Auditor, dropped out of the race to endorse King.

[34][35][36] Conversely, unsuccessful Democratic candidate Barbara Ackermann, state representatives Barney Frank, Mel King, Saundra Graham, Doris Bunte, Robert L. Fortes, and James Segel, Chelsea Mayor Joel Pressman, and the board of the directors of the Massachusetts chapter of Americans for Democratic Action endorsed Hatch.

[37][38][39][40] Lieutenant Governor Thomas P. O'Neill III considered dropping out of the race instead of running on the same ticket as King.