The Hiller Instinct: Gov. Patrick Interview

They know the word that may describe him best is "optimist" - and he makes no apologies.

"I frankly don't see how you lead without optimism," Patrick said. "You have to have a plan, but you have to have optimism."

Another word that defines Patrick is "compassionate," but he says it's not bottomless.

"You get things you read about, things you experience, where my heart doesn't always go out," Patrick said. "To be sure, I've got, I've got limits."

The biggest question about Patrick is what limits he'd put on state spending.

Hiller:  "So over the last four years, you've had to make some budget cuts?

Patrick:  "Yeah."

Hiller: "Cuts you didn't want to make."

Patrick: "Yeah."

Hiller: "So if you had your druthers, government, state government would be bigger than it is?"

Patrick:  "No. I'm not, that's not the point. It's about services to people, particularly vulnerable people."

Hiller: "How much more do we need now to do that?"

Patrick:  "Well, I'm not saying..."

Hiller: "How much would you say?"

Patrick:  "I'm not sure, I'm really not sure."

Hiller: "Given the economics, given your optimism ... is it possible you're the wrong person for these times?"

Patrick:  "No, I think I'm just the right person for these times, as a matter of fact, because we have made the hard decisions."

Patrick has changed since his inauguration. One example - his ability to handle the criticism that comes with the office.

Hiller: "True or false: you're a little thin-skinned?

Patrick:  "Ha, ha, I used to be, but I'm not anymore."

Hiller: "You toughened up over four years?"

Patrick:  "I better have, huh?"

Patrick knows polls predict he'll win, but he also knows polls can be wrong.

Hiller: "Would you be surprised if you lost?

Patrick:  "No, I think anything's possible, I don't take anything for granted."

It's a pretty good bet that over the next four years, Governor Patrick would spend more than Governor Baker. So Patrick is the more expensive option.

But he argues the election is about much more than money. If he wins, he'll be right.

I'm Andy Hiller, and that's my instinct.

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