Patrick Says He Will Support Kerry If He Seeks Presidency Again

[kerrygoddess]

Governor Patrick Says He Will Support Kerry If He Seeks Presidency Again
January 7th, 2007 @ 10:11 pm

With the news today that Joe Biden intends to “seek the Democratic presidential nomination in 2008,” came the news that Massachusetts’ new governor, Deval Patrick said today that “he would have to support Sen. John Kerry over Obama or Mrs. Clinton should the Massachusetts Democrat make a second run for the presidency.” Patrick was asked who he would support in ‘08 during an appearance that aired Sunday on WHDH-TV’s “Urban Update.” Apparently the list only included Kerry, Clinton and Obama, sorry Joe. Patrick made it very clear where his loyalty runs, to his home Senator who supported his bid for Governor…

“They are very, very strong people. I will tell you that if my home senator runs, I’ve got to be with him. I love the other candidates, but we will see. I don’t know that he has made a decision yet.”

MORE & LINKS - http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/?p=5070

[Superman Returns]

1. that makes one

[stranger]

2. what a juggernaut

wow! he's locked up massachusetts.
there no stopping him now. :)

[wisteria]

50. Wow, get ready, he has a lot more support than just Mass. n/t

[kerrygoddess]

3. One governor?

Yes it does. And a senator, and well we all know that Kerry has a loyal following around here too. Myself included. :)

[karynnj]

21. He also has Kennedy, Cleland, and probably Hart

Very few people endorse this early - not to mention he hasn't said he is running. How many Senators and Governors have endorsed anyone else. Obama has Durbin, Hillary has Bill Clinton and Schumer. I haven't heard of anyone else.

The reason why this was a story is that Deval Patrick is absolutely incredible. He knows Obama from Harvard and he was hired by the Clinton administration as a Civil Rights lawyer.

He is likely a major future star in the party. His life story is the most incredible of any I have heard. He grew up on the South Side of Chicago, sharing one room with his mom and sibling. He speaks of how they alternated from the top bunk to the bottom bunk to the floor. A teacher, recognizing his brilliance and character sent information on him to Milton Academy, a very elite boarding school in MA and they gave him a full scholarship and made it possible for him to attend.

How can you not be impressed with someone with the ability to make that move - the culture shock alone is amazing?

I saw him speak at a rally before he won the primary - he and his wif are awesome.

This is a major plus for Kerry - as the easiest thing for him would have been to simply say nice things about all of them or to say that none of them are officially running. This was not an endorsement he had to make.

[wisteria]

48. No, actually their are quite a few. Kerry, 2008! n/t

[wisteria]

58. This is great news. I am glad Patrick did this. He could of supported any of the candidates. n/t

[KingFlorez]

4. After the way he refused to defend himself last time, Kerry would be an awful choice

[Mass]

18. Except he did not refuse to defend himself, though he will be the first

to admit they underestimated the media answer. Some people learn from their mistakes.

[MADem]

5. I saw that show, he said he had to stick with his Senator if he ran

He made no bones about the endorsement. It was a good show. Often, UU is boring as hell, but it crackled today.

[Hieronymus]

10. I absolutely agree ..

Kerry doesn't deserve another chance ...

[MADem]

13. Well, then you don't agree, I guess

Patrick is supporting him, and I'll listen to him and the rest of the primary candidates. I haven't ruled him out yet....

[karynnj]

22. Because he lost,?

Then I think we need to elimainat all the people he VER VERY thouroughly beat. The media tried it's best to drum up a Kerry/Dean race after Iowa and a Kerry/Edwards race after Dean was out - but the vote counts never justified it.

[tavalon]

31. Not because he "lost"

because he abandoned us at the 23rd hour. I don't harbor the hatred for him that I did that fateful morning when he took any ability we had to fight the corruption and fraud that went on in Ohio and other states and threw it down the toilet but it doesn't mean I want him to run again. Kerry isn't a fighter as far as I can tell and that's what we need.

[karynnj]

45. You can't fight without legal proof which still does not exist.

He didn't abandon anyone. He faced the reality that he had no basis for appeal. The same lawyers who told Gore to fight found that there was not a case to be made in Ohio.

How do you go to either the Supreme court or Ohio's courts and argue based on what he had?

[tavalon]

67. If he had chosen to stay in a bit longer (even if his so called experts called it hopeless)

he would have given his foot soldiers credibility or at least a pulpit from which to be heard. He played the game based on what his precious lawyers told him was so instead of playing the game the way he promised to, to allow each vote to be counted. He didn't, btw, promise to make sure each vote was counted unless it was obviously futile, he promised to make sure each vote was counted period. When he backed out prematurely, he made it clear that he only intended to make sure each vote counted if in the end, those votes made it possible for him to win. In other words, he reneged on his promise. And I for one, don't allow a reneger another opportunity to pull the football away.

[karynnj]

71. As he said in his concession speech,

all the votes will be counted. They were they were still not enough. If by some miracle they would have found more, Kerry could and would have taken back his concession. (It can be done Gore did it after the election eve concession.) It is not final until Congress ratifies it.

By the way the final tallies are almost never in before the concession - Gore may be the only exception. The military votes to not even have to arrive in FL (and likley other states) until as much as a week later. Concessions are ALWAYS made as Kerry did.

[tavalon]

73. I understand that you support his decision

I do not. If he ends up being our nominee, I will hold my nose and vote for him but he is not my first nor my tenth choice.

edited to add: I won't work for him again. I'll cast my vote but I'm not going to be spending my evenings at the headquarters again, not of his campaign. I'll do it for another one but not for him.

[wisteria]

51. He said he could of supported any of the others, but chose to support Kerry.

Get it right!

[MADem]

53. I DID get it right.

Deval said: I will tell you that if my home senator runs, I’ve got to be with him. I love the other candidates, but we will see.

[Clarkie1]

6. Well, of course. It's his home state! nt

[stranger]

7. forgot the sarcasm emoticon

wow! he's locked up massachusetts.
there no stopping him now. :sarcasm:

[Clarkie1]

9. I was being polite. nt

[wisteria]

52. They don't have to support him you know. They don't have to say anything now at all.

The fact that he made it clear and said he had other choices makes it news. Oh, and FYI, Kerry had other endorsements as well.

[nebula]

8. We're seriously doomed if he gets the nom

Can't stand the thought of Kerry or his wife.

He failed to honor his promise to challenge the results of the 04 election, giving us 4 more years of endless war and misery. I believe he was working for the other side (Bush).

Kerry is a fraud who cannot be trusted.

A proven liar and a traitor to the people who worked so hard on his campaign!

[Superman Returns]

11. No, he is not a traitor

He is an American patriot and hero, just a lousy candidate.

[Eurobabe]

12. Copy that SR.

[tblue]

16. Yeah, not a traitor. He just had horrible political instincts, allowed himself to be overmanaged

Maybe it wasn't his fault, but it would be really, really hard to get excited by the thought of another run with John Kerry.

[karynnj]

25. Then what about the political instincts of all those he beat

Kerry's primary team did an excellent job winning - without media support. Maybe this says that the primary team was better offf without the people added after he won the nomination. They seemed to have come in and immediately clashed with the Kerry people. From what they stated publicly (before the election even - great loyalty) they wanted Kery to follow their and Clinton's advice to speak less about terrorism and Iraq and more about the economy. Kerry's numbers did better when he spoke about foreign policy.

[oasis]

14. Why throw Kerry's wife into your rant?

[stranger]

15. an ineffective politician

but a good man-as some superman just said.

but we cannot afford to have him blow a seond election
to the repubs

[karynnj]

24. He never promised to dhallange the results

The numbers were not there. Even now, they STILL don't have proof that there was the type of fraud that was illegal and you can take to court. (The RFKjr report counts votes lost because the lines were too long - not having adequate machine was not illegal and the allocation of machines was sent to the bi-partisan election committee in each county. No one in the Ohio Democratic party noticed they were allocated fewer machines in Democratic strongholds than they had in the primary. This is where Howard Dean in building up the state parties is FAR FAR better than McAuliffe, who let them decay.)

[zulchzulu]

26. Yeah! See what Conyers said about him!

"Fighting for Every Voter"

A few more words about an issue that is of the utmost importance to me. As political candidates, we spend considerable time and effort every election cycle fighting for votes...

A few more words about an issue that is of the utmost importance to me.

As political candidates, we spend considerable time and effort every election cycle fighting for votes. After the election, whether won or lost, many candidates leave the irregularities of the election behind. But we owe the voters more than that. When voters are disenfrachised, we owe it to them to seek justice and expose the truth.

That is why I have been so proud of the Kerry-Edwards campaign's ongoing involvement in the investigation and litigation of what went wrong in Ohio. I wrote to the candidates recently to ask that they continue to be involved in this important endeavor.

This is not about the past. It is about figuring out what went wrong and why -- and then getting the next election right, not for the Democratic Party, but for all of the voters.

- John Conyers

http://www.conyersblog.us/archives/00000213.htm

Oh, hmmm....maybe you have your story a tad incorrect...

[mtnsnake]

30. Don't stay awake worrying about it

After the pathetic campaign he ran in 2004, there won't be a chance for him to "come close" again, especially considering that next time we won't have the luxury of going up against a moron like Bush.

[wisteria]

55. I saw the same campaign as you, and I thought it was a good campaign.

Just because it came to be a loss, doesn't mean it wasn't a good effort. Oh, and who are the "they" who are going to stop him? If he wants to run and he has the passion to do so, he will run- for the good of our country.
He offers more for this country even with the 04 loss than the lot of who are supposedly running in 08. He has as good as or even better chance than most.

[wisteria]

54. I worked damn hard too to see it come to a loss. I still believe in him and will support him in 08.

I was around for the same election as you, but I have come away with an entirely different perspective. He fought as hard as he could with what he had to work with. It would of been foolish for him to pursue what obviously had already been "taken care of by Blackwell". The party would not of backed him-period. As a matter of fact, certain party affiliates were very concerned about votes being counted and the election being challanged. Go ask Carville.

[Mass]

17. I was happy to see that, and coming from somebody like Patrick,

it was good to hear.


He is still my number 1, with Gore and Obama just behind.

[mdmc]

19. He would be the best liberal in the race

I mean, after Kucinich...

[Freddie Stubbs]

20. The Governor usually supports the hometown boy

As long as they are in the same party. Spitzer will like support Hillary and Blagojevich will probably back Obama. The only probabable exception is that Strickland may not back Kucinich.

[karynnj]

28. The point here is that he had very strong ties with the other 2

1) Deval Patrick is NOT your run of the mill governor.
2) Maybe because they knew he other from school and are both black, there was speculation (when Obama appeared with him in the fall) that he was very close to Obama
3) This would be an endorsement that Hillary would want almost more than anyone else's - other than Bill Clinton's.
4) He easily could have stopped after he said he liked all 3.

[Capn Sunshine]

23. Three words

PLEASE GOD NO

[zulchzulu]

27. Cool!

Thanks, KG.

[mtnsnake]

29. What was he supposed to say when they asked him who he'd support?

"Well, John Kerry supported my own bid when I ran for Governor, so I think my loyalty belongs to Joe Biden."

[zulchzulu]

32. So who do you support?

Can we trash your choice like a drunken monkey too?

[mtnsnake]

33. Obama or Clark first. Either one but Obama will probably get the nod I think.

Hillary would be okay by me, too, although, I don't think she'd have as good a chance in the general election as Obama.

[zulchzulu]

49. Well, that's nice...

I won't trash your choices. I could, but I won't. That's what nice people do.

[TayTay]

34. New Governor Deval Patrick had 3 claims on his loyalty

Senator Barack Obama made 3 trips to Massachusetts to support Deval Patrick in his guvernatorial run. Former President Bill Clinton made 2 appearances in-state to raise money for Patrick, who was ahead in the polls by anywhere from 18-30 points all during the General Election.

So, you serously think that high powered people like Barack Obama and Bill Clinton came to Massachusetts to campaign for someone who was never less than 18 points ahead in the polls because they were just nice guys? Please, they wanted his endorsement and didn't get it.

[mtnsnake]

35. Gimme a break

Obama and Bill Clinton supported Patrick because they wanted him to win, period. Good gawd, as if Bill needs his endorsement for anything.

[TayTay]

36. Really, then why didn't they campaign in Conn

for Ned Lamont, the Democratic Candidate for the Senate in that state? He could have used the help.

Didn't Sen. Obama and former President Clinton want them to win as well?

[mtnsnake]

37. Bill's wife sent mucho campaign money to Lamont

[TayTay]

38. Seh sent $5,000 and an communications aide to help out.

Bill Clinton went on TV and said he didn't care who won because a Dem or someone who would caucus with the Dems would win anyway. He seriously undercut the candidate the Democratic Party of Connecticut had chosen. Bill Clinton failed the Democrats of Connecticut when they needed him.

This is why Deval Patrick's endorsement matters:

Patrick is keeping grass-roots effort alive:
Building network to push agenda

Boston Globe, (12-04-2006)
By Frank Phillips, and Globe Staff

Fresh off his resounding victory, Governor-elect Deval L. Patrick plans to keep active his much-touted campaign field organization, a decision that will give him considerable political muscle when he governs from Beacon Hill and could empower him in Democratic presidential politics.

His aides said that Patrick has given his campaign manager, John Walsh, the task of transforming the grass-roots network into a permanent statewide political organization. Among the organization's tasks, aides said, will be to provide support for Patrick's agenda at the State House, raise funds, provide political ground support for the governor, and mobilize around issues that he and his supporters care about.

"The grass-roots organization could be used to build support for Deval's agenda," said Doug Rubin, who served as his chief strategist in the campaign. "Any governor has the bully pulpit to persuade voters that their agenda is worth supporting. This organization can help build popular support."

Walsh, credited for creating the political infrastructure that carried Patrick to his historic victory, said the details about the shape the organization will take and the role it will play are still being worked out. He said the political group would use its Internet-driven communications to allow Patrick supporters to engage in political and civic affairs.

"The power of this comes from the activists," Walsh said. "If people believe, they should know they can provide their input to the Globe, to talk radio, their state legislators, their city councilors."

It matters because candidates going into New Hampshire want a piece of that field organization and the nice media exposure that being Gov of a neighboring state brings. To deny this is silly. It is also silly to over-emphasize the endorsement. It was nice for Kerry, that's all.

[karynnj]

39. Were you in MA any time during the general election?

Tay Tay told you how far ahead he was. There was no doubt he was winning by a landslide. Not only was he that many points ahead - there were 2 independent cadidates getting some of the vote.

[mtnsnake]

40. Are you saying that Bill & Obama didn't give a hoot if Patrick won?

That they only supported him for self serving purposes?

[TayTay]

41. Ahm, kind of, yes.

They brought in some nice money. Everyone loves nice money. That was, I'm sure, greatly appreciated. They also rallied the troops.

But Ned Lamont could have used those appearances more than Deval Patrick.

[karynnj]

44. Of course not, just that their presence

would make no difference. The Democrats accomplished a minor miracle by not hurting each other in the primaries. Patrick came out of the primaries very strong and his opponent is an idiot.

[blue cat]

42. Same here

He is my number 1 choice.

[lojasmo]

43. Stupid to endorse before the field is set.

Ignorant, I should say.

[wisteria]

56. No, I am sure he has inside info on the choices. He chose Kerry! n/t

[LittleClarkie]

46. Me too. Just like the Gov. I'm just waiting for the announcement

We shall see indeed.

[politicasista]

47. Yes, we shall see

:hi:

[Vektor]

57. Well, he's in good company then.

I love me some MA Dems! :-)

[Kelly Rupert]

59. News like this makes me think that perhaps some of us

secretly enjoy having a Republican in the White House to complain about. I can't otherwise understand the belief that John Kerry--a man who we all got behind only under the banner of ABB, and who managed to lose an election to the worst President this nation has ever seen--would make a great candidate in 2008.

[LittleClarkie]

61. As one of those "all" I would ask you kindly to speak for yourself and not for me

We weren't "all" behind him under the ABB banner.

He's a good man. If he doesn't make it as prez, then I'll push him for Attorney General.

And bad prez or not, Bush was a prez in wartime, and not everyone thought he was the worst ever. They're seeing it now though, I reckon.

[beachmom]

63. Kerry is the most qualified person to be president. Period.

The others pale in comparison. But if you want to stay in Iraq forever, watch more people become terrorists, global warming to get worse, and the health care crisis to worsen then continue with the Clintonista talking points.

[Imagevision]

60. Oprah Says She Will Support Obama If He Seeks The Presidency

I'll take O in a heartbeat over Patrick...

[Mass]

62. Why? Both are bright and overcame many obstacles.

If your point is to say that you prefer Obama to Kerry, fine, but why bash Patrick in the process?

[beachmom]

64. Oprah had Condi Rice on her show. She is largely apolitical,

and quite frankly doesn't seem to study up much on geopolitics. Don't get me wrong -- I like her show sometimes and admire her, but her endorsement isn't one that I'm looking for in terms of real knowledge of government. She likes Obama, loves his story, etc. Great. But I'm looking for a real leader to bring us out of the darkness, and Kerry is FAR more qualified to do that than Obama, God love 'em.

[Major Hogwash]

74. She also had Tom Cruise on her show - and look what it got him!

Talk show hosts endorsing candidates would be the kiss of death to their programs.
That's why they don't do it.

Yet, in 2004, just by watching his reaction to Republican guests on his own program, one could get the sense that Jay Leno leans to the right politically.

[Superman Returns]

65. I prayed for the first time tonight

that Kerry and Hillary did not run.

[politicasista]

66. And you think that dumping on them is going to help your candidate?

You think the media will go easy on Edwards? You think he won't be swiftboated? If you do not think so, then you are in for a rude awakening.

They all have a right to run if they want. We could use some informative debates. That is always better than each candidate's supporters bashing other candidates just to promote their own. Don't you think?

[PresidentObama]

68. politicasista is right.

EVERY candidate is going to get swiftboated, doesn't matter if it's Kerry or Hillary or Edwards.

The GOP strategy is attack, attack, attack. And keep the slime machine churning out bullshit about our respective candidates.

It's the sad truth!

"That is always better than each candidate's supporters bashing other candidates just to promote their own. Don't you think?"

:applause: :applause: :applause:

THANK YOU!!

[zulchzulu]

69. The logic is amazing...

Some think that their candidate can do better because Kerry already ran...exsqueeze me, but I think there were certain candidates who did run in 2004 and before too... Pinch me if I'm wrong...

If Kerry is such a "bad candidate", why worry or have to bash him like a drunken monkey on a keyboard...why such fear...???

:shrug:

[PresidentObama]

70. Support your candidate to the best of your ability.

It's ok to talk about other candidates shortcomings and even constructive criticism.

But attacking like a shark that tastes blood in the water, it gets old!

We all have our own agenda's, whether we wish to admit it or not. But shoving our candidates down other peoples throats is just wrong.

You want to support your candidate? DO IT. Don't beat mine up because of your candidates shortcomings, defend your candidate and back your candidate up.

My candidate, your candidate...none of the great Democratic candidates should be punching bags! They should all be respected.

....Yes, even Hillary Clinton. I don't like Hillary that much, but if she wins the nomination I'd be volunteering and donating money as fast as anybody.

[against all enemies]

72. Kerry should free these people now!!!! So they can help a better candidate.

[Blaukraut]

76. Free these people??

Why is it that only Kerry has to step back and defer to everyone else who wants to run? Can we ask some of the other candidates who have decided to throw their hats into the ring but don't stand a chance to stand down and free their backers for the others?
No? Didn't think so.

[dailykoff]

75. Smart move.

:applause:

[Imagevision]

77. Oprah has stated she would support Obama 110% O isn't any lightweight...

While having Obama as a guest on her show Oprah pleaded with Barack Obama to; "please say you'll run for president"