The pros and cons of a Deval Patrick presidential run

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Deval Patrick for president in 2016?  The Massachusetts governor says “maybe.”

Patrick, 57, the first African-American executive of the Bay State, says that he is considering a run for president, which would likely pit him against former Secretary of State and first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton.  But what are the pros and cons of a Patrick candidacy?

To be sure, there are a number of positives associated with a potential Deval Patrick run for the White House.

For one, Governor Patrick is a brilliant Harvard-trained lawyer, not unlike his would-be predecessor, the current occupant of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.  Further, the governor has a record of service and a commitment to civil rights, as a former lawyer for the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, and as an Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights under President Bill Clinton.  Moreover, he is the governor of a state, which is a common springboard for national office.

Unlike Barack Obama, or trailblazers Shirley Chisolm and Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr.—who was a candidate for the Democratic nomination in 1984 and a strong contender in 1988—Patrick would not have to deal with the Jackie Robinson syndrome, the burden and challenges facing the first person of color to break into a new field of endeavor. Detractors could attempt to paint the governor as a Massachusetts liberal from the South Side of Chicago, and all that implies, but there is no color barrier to break this time around.

In addition, another black Democrat with solid liberal credentials vying for the presidential nomination could generate excitement among the party’s diverse constituents.  Obama at the top of the ticket translated into unsurpassed black turnout at the polls, contributing to a Democratic victory.  And as a surrogate for the Obama campaign during the 2012 election, not to mention a close friend, Patrick’s association with the president would not hurt him among Obama supporters.

However, one drawback of a Patrick candidacy is that Hillary Clinton has already been named heir to the presidential nomination crown in many political circles.  The appeal of a first woman president is palpable.  Plus, you never know what Vice President Joe Biden is up to these days.  Word on the street is he wants to run for president, which along with a Hillary run could create barriers to entry for someone such as Governor Patrick.  Add to that speculation that President Obama actually supports Clinton for president, and things look potentially more difficult for Deval Patrick.  Support from the current president could help boost the fortunes of a Democratic candidate, but we don’t know for sure who that candidate will be.

Another unknown factor is whether after voters will vote for another black president after two terms of President Obama.  Although some observers predict the next president may very well be black, others suggest the next African-American commander-in-chief will not come in the near future, given that most black politicians are elected due to black voters.  On the other hand, Deval Patrick does have crossover appeal, as the governor of a state that is 84 percent white.  At the same time, to its credit, Massachusetts is not necessarily representative of the entire country.

Perhaps an even more viable option for Governor Patrick is the number-two spot on the ticket.  Could a Clinton-Patrick matchup prove to be a winning combination?  At least for now, the governor of Massachusetts said last month that he would not be interested in running for vice president, not even under Hillary Clinton.

Follow David A. Love on Twitter at @davidalove