The Hiller Instinct: Deval Patrick Interview

"The people of Massachusetts chose by a decisive margin to take their government back!" then Governor-elect Deval Patrick declared in 2006.

Now he's an incumbent, at a time when incumbency is a liability: Hiller asks, "How many of the campaign promises you made in 2006 do you remember?"

Gov. Patrick: "Most of them. You going to confront me with a few now?"

Hiller: "Have you cut property taxes?"

Patrick: "We have not done all that we will."

Hiller: "Have you restored local aid to pre-2000 levels?"

Patrick: "No."

Hiller: "Have you put 1,000 new police officers back on the street?"

Patrick: "One of many things we have had to cut, like many programs."

But don't expect an apology.

"We have ended abuse in the state pension system, tightened the ethics and lobbying rules, simplified the transportation networks, shut down the Turnpike Authority...We're number one in the nation in student achievement, number one in healthcare coverage, number one in clean and alternative energy policy--that's not by accident..." the governor said, sounding satisfied.

"We're going to leave a Commonwealth that's better than we found it, whether it's at the end of one term or two."

Hiller: "Is it possible that you have a higher opinion of yourself than voters do?"

Patrick: "Of course... I think what will tell..what will determine that is the outcome of the vote in November."

But he won't wait until November to attack: "We've got candidates right now who'll say anything to anybody in order to advance their political ambitions," the governor said.

And he's looking forward to the fight ahead: "I like campaigning and I know often candidates say that and they're lying, but I actually like it."

Every poll says the governor is vulnerable, so he can be beat.

But no one's beating him yet in any poll...and now he gets to do what he does best: campaign.

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