I'm not especially convinced by that, he was happy to associate himself with Boris whilst Boris was popular but I wouldn't have said he shares any particular Boris traits as a politician or individual.
I think it's simply, as has been noted, that the issues around Teesworks, and elsewhere, are quite complex to fully understand, a lot of people value the amenity of a local airport he's seen as having "saved" (despite never using it), there are signs of money being spent on the area (Darlington and Middlesbrough station upgrades), the promise of more to come, the clear progress on clearing the steelworks site, the appearance of a new factory (to make wind turbine foundations), the supine nature of the local press who happily regurgitate puff pieces from his public relations staff without engaging critically with the content, and so on.
It's all quite thin as
@DarloRich notes. But it isn't nothing and I can certainly see why he will do well enough, with a split vote, to win.