Patrick says Obama has talked to him about another job
Governor Deval Patrick today said President Obama has talked to him about taking some other political position but he has demurred "because the only job in politics I want is the one I have."
Patrick, a Democrat, also said directly he would say no if Obama personally asked him to challenge US Senator Scott Brown, a Republican who replaced the late Senator Edward M. Kennedy and is now up for reelection in 2012.
"I am not interested in serving in the United States Senate," Patrick said during his monthly appearance on WTKK-FM.
The governor has repeatedly denied interest in taking a Cabinet job or Supreme Court nomination from Obama, a close personal friend and political ally.
Yet during an interview last week on NBC-TV's "Today" show, Patrick did not directly answer a question about whether he would challenge Brown if Obama asked.
Today, facing the same question, Patrick divulged he and Obama had talked about a job other than him serving as governor.
"I would say no to the president of the United States," Patrick declared. "The president and I have had conversations about other things, about other things that he is interested in or has some interest in my doing, and I have said no because the only job in politics I want is the one I have."
Asked if Obama had asked him to challenge Brown, Patrick said: "I'm not going to talk about it.”
Glen Johnson can be reached at johnson@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @globeglen.
About Political Intelligence
Glen Johnson is Politics Editor at boston.com and lead blogger for "Political Intelligence." He moved to Massachusetts in the fourth grade, and has covered local, state, and national politics for over 25 years. E-mail him at johnson@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @globeglen. |
