So, who will Gov. Patrick support in the 2008 Democrat Presidential primary?
Now that Patrick no longer has to worry about backing Sen. John Kerry, it appears that Patrick will have to choose between supporting Sen. Hillary Clinton and Sen. Barack Obama. He's obviously loyal to both candidates: Clinton's husband appointed him as head of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division in 1994, and Obama aided him in his campaign last year.
How interesting would it be if Patrick decided to endorse Clinton over Obama? One wonders if Patrick would take any race-based heat over such a decision (i.e., the first black governor of Massachusetts electing not to endorse a man attempting to become America's first black President.) Would Patrick run afoul of Democrat activists who seem to find Obama more fascinating than Clinton?
Conversely, if Patrick decided to endorse Obama, would the Clintons consider that a betrayal? Bill Clinton made Patrick a nationally known figure a decade ago, and one would figure that the Clintons are, on some level, "owed" an endorsement from Patrick. The former President arguably did more than Obama to help Patrick last year; thus, shouldn't his wife be entitled to an endorsement?
Perhaps Patrick is secretly hoping for Obama's campaign to collapse, thus allowing him to endorse Clinton without feeling any guilt. Despite his charisma, it's difficult to imagine Obama getting past the Clinton machine anyway. Obama often talks of the "audacity of hope"; maybe Patrick has the audacity to hope that circumstances will force his fellow Harvard Law graduate out of the race, thus clearing the way for a regret-free endorsement of Clinton.
Patrick will play a crucial role in the '08 Democrat primary. The only question is, who will his co-star be?
UPDATE: Patrick says he'll fail to reform police details.