“Deval’s done a great job and I think (it) signals that he could be very successful at the federal level as well,” Obama told Boston NBC station, New England Cable News. ”I suspect, knowing his wife as I do, they’re going to be taking a little bit of time off,” Obama added.
The president said Patrick, 57, has “enormous talent” and should strongly consider a return to politics, if and when he does take a break, after his second term as governor concludes.
Former Secretary of State Hillary R0dham Clinton is, by a wide margin, the front-runner for the Democratic presidential nomination in public opinion polls. However, the former first lady she has not declared whether she intends to run and the election is more than two years off.
Patrick, for his part, made it clear back in July he is not running for president in 2016 and would return to the private sector when his term as governor expires in January 2015. Patrick, who served as assistant attorney general for civil rights under President Bill Clinton, gave speeches at the 2008 and 2012 Democratic national conventions that boosted his profile.
Even though Patrick says he is taking a break, President Obama may be onto something. Patrick might be taking a needed reprieve before venturing into higher office.
