Deval Patrick is polling as poorly as Gov. Paterson

[ruggerson]

I wonder why he isn't getting the strong arm treatment?

I like both governors. Matter of fact, if Patrick ever ran for national office, I'd probably be in his camp.

But I think the very different treatment given to two (currently) unpopular governors speaks to a curious double standard.

[skipos]

1. Where are the polls you are talking about?

I have never seen Patrick as hopelessly low as Paterson, but maybe I missed it.

[ruggerson]

5. 19% approval as of last month

http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2009/08/more_bad_poll_n.html

[Captain Hilts]

2. Paterson is politically incompetent and Patrick is not, hence, the difference.

The Democratic Party in Albany is a disaster.

[joeybee12]

11. I beg to differ...incapable of governing...

...if he wasn't Obama's pal, we probably never would have heard of him except for his dismal polling.

[Teaser]

3. one is clueless, one not

.

[dsc]

4. Is there an alternative to Patrick

Patterson has an all but declared primary opponent.

[ruggerson]

6. he has a likely repub opponent

who is currently beating him in a two man matchup.

[dsc]

7. unless he gets primaried

I don't think Obama is going to wish him to not run. I feel for Patterson, who I think isn't the author of most of his troubles. Patrick is much more to blame for any troubles he is having. But I admit, Obama is doing the best thing for the party by pressing Patterson to get out of the race. If Patrick gets a strong primary opponent, I can see the same thing happening, though it is less likely given how close Obama is to Patrick.

[laughingliberal]

8. Paterson is seen as a drag on the rest of the ticket with some tough races coming up

The big difference is that Paterson's state has 2 important seats that could be lost to Republicans in 2010. One is the Senate seat held by Kirsten Gillibrand who was appointed to fill the vacancy left by Senator Clinton. The other is the seat Gillibrand vacated to take the Senate position. It is a fairly conservative district that will be hard for a Democrat to hold and Senator Gillibrand will be running state wide for the 1st time. With both these seats at risk it is a problem to have a weak, unpopular democrat at the top of the ticket for the state. MA's seats are fairly safe for Democrats regardless of the top of the ticket.

[Smarmie Doofus]

9. One makes the WH palace guard "furious" and the other does not?

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/20/nyregion/20paterson.html?hp

[La Lioness Priyanka]

10. i think part of it is deval won fair and square last time and paterson didnt

so paterson can be more easily bullied