The Hiller Instinct: Obama and Patrick

"So we had coffee, Barack and I, when I came through Chicago and we've had a professional and personal relationship since. And I'm proud of him, I'm so proud of him and I'm excited about the incoming administration." Gov. Patrick said.

Given their friendship, the obvious question is: how might it benefit Massachusetts?

"I think it means we'll have a chance to be involved in shaping policy, and shaping policy as much as possible so that it benefits the people of Massachusetts, but not specially so. Because he's President of the whole United States, not just for us here."

Despite a long campaign, the President-elect is still a question mark---what exactly will he change and how will he bring us together?

"I see someone who is candid about just how hard that's going to be, but thinks about "yes we can" just as I do about "together we can" as an assertion of character, not a political slogan."

The Governor may be in Washington for the Inauguration...but you know he's coming back. In fact, virtually everyone traveling from Massachusetts is:

I asked him, "How come nobody from Massachusetts is going to be in the administration except people from Harvard Law School?"

Laughing, he said, "They're from Massachusetts. You know, they're not done filling all the positions, and there are a number of people from the administration, this administration, who may yet end up in positions, it's a process that takes awhile."

Don't expect the Governor to be part of that process, even though he went to Harvard Law and obviously has a personal connection with the President-elect.

But Patrick promises he'll stay here while Obama is in the White House, so--starting next week--we'll find out what together they can do.

I'm Andy Hiller, 7News.

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