DANVERS — Charlie Baker said he wants to keep more of Red Sox Nation here.

The Massachusetts gubernatorial hopeful, who spoke last night at the Peabody Area Chamber of Commerce's 78th annual dinner, said when he watches Red Sox away games on TV and sees all the fans in the crowd, he knows most did not grow up outside New England following the team.

"I look at that, and it makes me sad," he said. "They left because they found opportunities for their families that they couldn't find here."

Baker told the room of 200 businessmen and businesswomen the state needed to create more jobs that kept young people from leaving for places like Texas, forced to follow their team from afar.

A day after Republican governors swept into office in New Jersey and Virginia, Baker downplayed the significance on his own campaign.

"It's early," he told the group. "A year in politics is a very long time."

Baker didn't want to draw too many conclusions.

"But I do think the message about economic and fiscal discipline, and definitely fiscal discipline, resonated with voters in both states," he said prior to his address.

Instead, Baker spent time speaking about how he worried the next generation would have to find work outside Massachusetts. He said he wanted to create a state that allowed more of them to "put a stake in the ground."

"I want to send a message to my kids and yours that this is the place to be," the candidate said. "When you go to see your grandchildren, I want you to get in a car instead of climbing in a plane."

Baker announced July 8 that he would be stepping away from his job as CEO of Harvard Pilgrim Health Care to pursue the governor's job. The Swampscott resident has spent the intervening months building a campaign that he hopes will eventually pit him against Democrat Gov. Deval Patrick.

The race for governor and the election is about creating jobs, reining in the state budget and balancing politics in the state, Baker told the group.

The Republican candidate referred to his time in the administration of former Gov. William Weld, his service as a Swampscott selectman and his work at Harvard Pilgrim.

During the early 1990s, government learned three lessons: Time was "not our friend," plan for the worst and communicate your plan, he said.

"We're not taking advantage of our time," Baker said of the state's present financial situation.

State leaders have misjudged revenue deficits for six consecutive quarters, he said. He saw the current financial crisis as a "historic opportunity."

"We have to live within our state budget," Baker said.

More of the state's funds are being supported on the backs of taxpayers and cities and towns, he said.

"There's no question this is a very difficult time for the state. It's a difficult time for families," the Republican said. "It's also an opportunity."

Baker said the state needs to take advantage of it.

The candidate's address last night came during a week his campaign raised $1 million. As he walked toward the door to head to another function in Braintree and shook hands with chamber members, Baker said he felt "pretty good" about his campaign.

"We have a good message," the candidate said. "People are paying attention."

He said he was more impressed with the number of donors, 3,500, and the number of supporters, 2,500.

"For me, those two numbers are equally telling," Baker said.