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Patrick declines comment -- mostly -- on possible Cahill challenge

E-mail|Link|Comments () July 7, 2009 01:42 PM

By Matt Viser, Globe Staff

Governor Deval Patrick reacted diplomatically today to news that Treasurer Timothy P. Cahill is planning to leave the Democratic Party and become an independent, a move that could eventually lead to Cahill challenging Patrick in the 2010 election.

Patrick said he was working hard to manage the state during the recession and the time for verbal jousting would come later.

“My focus continues to be managing us through this extraordinary challenging economic time, trying to do what we can to get the economy going again, and implement these new reforms," he said. “There will come a time when the campaign is for real, and we’ll engage then. But for the time being, that’s my focus. I wish him well, as I do all the candidates -- real and would-be.”

When asked about Cahill's criticism that Democrats have espoused too much of a "tax-and-spend" philosophy, Patrick told the Globe, “Look, all those old slogans are for yesterday. We’re governing for tomorrow.”

Patrick was a bit more feisty in his language with other reporters, saying, "If he’s going to be a candidate, then fine. We’ll talk about all that during the course of the campaign. He should bring his A game.”

He also brushed off Cahill’s "tax-and-spend" criticism, saying it was a "canard," State House News Service reported.