Cahill launches independent run for governor

With his experience at the local, county, and state levels, Cahill believes, he is the most qualified to run the state at a time of financial difficulty.

Though a private poll conducted by Cahill and a public poll commissioned by the Globe this summer showed he matches up well against the other candidates, he will face major hurdles running as a nonparty candidate, experts said.

State election officials could recall no instance when an independent candidate won statewide office here. H. Ross Perot, who ran as an independent candidate for president in 1992, garnered more than 20 percent of the vote, which election officials believe was the largest percentage won in Massachusetts by an independent in recent years.

“The history of independent candidates has been an unhappy one,’’ said Philip Johnston, former chairman of the state Democratic Party. “The landscape is littered with the remnants of such campaigns and with good reason. This is essentially a two-party country, and people choose sides by enrolling in one party or the other.’’

Johnston said that governors around the country are vulnerable because of the economy, but, he said, “it would take almost a miracle for an independent to be elected governor.’’

Mihos, who ran as an independent for governor in 2006, learned the hard way how difficult an independent candidacy can be.

“It’s a very difficult task to take on,’’ Mihos said. “There are no town committees, no party structures whatsoever. As long as he appeals to as many voters as possible, you never know. But I found it exceedingly difficult. I wish him well.’’

Mihos said Cahill will “bring a lot of substance to the race.’’

Baker spokesman Rob Gray said only an outsider can win the race.

“We face enormous problems, and the only candidate in this race who has a proven record as a fiscal problem solver inside and outside of government is Charlie Baker,’’ he said in an e-mail.

A spokesman for Patrick’s campaign declined to comment on Cahill’s decision.

Cahill’s entry into the race comes at a time when much of the public attention is focused on the campaign to succeed Kennedy.

The governor’s race has now receded somewhat, and it may be more difficult for Cahill to generate interest and raise campaign funds, at least for the next several months, some observers said.

Cahill has been positioning himself for a run for months, speaking out on issues not traditionally in the treasurer’s sphere.

He came out early for casino gambling and several months ago proposed that the state license slot machines to generate revenue.

He has been quick to criticize the Legislature and the governor, seizing on nearly any opportunity to differentiate himself from Patrick.

Yesterday, on a radio show, he said he would be willing to sign a petition circulated by a group to eliminate all tolls in Massachusetts.

If Cahill has a disadvantage running as an independent candidate, he starts the race with a huge fund-raising edge.

He has amassed a campaign war chest of roughly $3 million - significantly more than Patrick, who had only $464,000 on hand as of Aug. 31.

Patrick, though, will still have the ability to tap into the Democratic Party’s fund-raising machine.

Cahill intends to kick off the campaign at a fund-raiser at the Adams Inn in Quincy, his hometown.