Mr. Patrick goes to Washington

Governor Deval Patrick is definitely not taking the leisurely tourist approach to a trip to the nation's capital.

Instead, his official schedule in Washington today and Thursday is chock full of meetings as he tries to show how plugged in he is to the administration of his friend and political ally, President Obama.

Once he arrives in DC this afternoon, Patrick is to meet with Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus, then Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke, followed by a visit to Walter Reed Army Medical Center to see wounded Massachusetts National Guardsmen and soldiers. Patrick wraps up the day with a meeting with Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius.

On Thursday, the governor starts with a breakfast with the Massachusetts congressional delegation with state House Speaker Robert DeLeo tagging along. Then, Patrick meets Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood.

Then with Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle in tow, Patrick and DeLeo head to the White House for a session with Obama’s senior adviser David Axelrod. Patrick and DeLeo get some brief face time with the president, himself.

Patrick is to wrap up his Washington whirlwind by joining Doyle for a meeting Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, who is the throes of putting a health care overhaul bill to take to the Senate floor.