Who will be the #1 contender to Deval Patrick's title?

Initially, the thought of having to face Christy Mihos in next year’s Republican gubernatorial primary produced some teeth-gnashing in Charles D. Baker’s camp.

But the thinking among Baker advisers has shifted: They now believe that having Mihos in the race could be a good thing, in part because a primary fight would give Baker a good tuneup for the general election next fall.

They say they have no plans to try to keep Mihos off the primary ballot.

Whether that’s a smart move remains to be seen.

Though Baker is the favored candidate of the Republican establishment, Mihos has millions of dollars at his disposal to spend on a campaign. When he ran as an independent in 2006, he used $4 million of his own funds, though he captured 6 percent of the vote.

Mihos also has a certain populist, antigovernment appeal that could play well against the Ivy League-educated Baker among some GOP primary voters.

UPDATE: More from the Globe and Frum Forum.

SECOND UPDATE: More from the Herald and WCVB.