Jul 1, 2009 9:25 am US/Eastern
Patrick Or Romney - Who's The Better Governor?
BOSTON (WBZ) ―
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Deval Patrick and Mitt Romney at the State House June 30, 2009.
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Who's The Better Governor?
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For the first time since his term ended in early 2007, former governor Mitt Romney was at the State House Tuesday night.
An official
portrait of Romney was unveiled at a ceremony attended by his successor, Deval Patrick.
It was a golden opportunity to ask a tough question - who is the better governor?
If you looked past the partisan rhetoric and listened for the pauses and the spin, the truth is, Governor Patrick has had a tough 2 1/2 years of it.
And while Romney was unpopular when he left office, it seems absence makes the heart grow fonder.
Patrick admits he hasn't talked to Romney about state business once since he left office.
And he can't be too thrilled about recent polling that shows his bumpy ride has left voters comparing him unfavorably with Romney.
According to
pollster Scott Rasmussen, by a shocking 49-to-32 percent margin, voters now feel Romney was a better governor than Deval Patrick has proven to be.
We asked the governor how he explains that?
"Well, I don't think there's much to explain," Patrick said.
"He's not a candidate right now, and of course the poll that matters the most will be next November."
Actually, a year from next November, but who's counting?
As the celebration of Romney's term and the jowly official portrait commemorating it continued, we asked leaders of Patrick's own party to address the question:
Here's House Speaker Robert DeLeo's response:
"Ummm...I would have to say, I have yet to serve to a full term with Patrick, but obviously, I would say the Democratic governor, Governor Patrick would be the better governor."
And State Treasurer Tim Cahill, who might challenge Patrick for the Democratic nomination:
"Oh, different times, different governors, but Gov. Romney did a great job in some tough times."
DeLeo did say that there's never been a better looking governor than Mitt Romney.
But good looks aren't everything, as Romney proved in last year's presidential race.
But Patrick has to be hoping the economy will improve enough to spare him the fate that befell Romney - gone after one term with a low job approval rating.
By the way, Romney says he will make no decision on another run for president until after the 2010 elections.
Even though he recently sold his Belmont home, he plans on remaining a Massachusetts resident.
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