Would Deval Patrick Be a Good Vice Presidential Candidate?

Former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick has long been suggested as an attractive candidate for a national ticket, and his national profile has been bolstered by suggestions that he could be a vice presidential running mate for Joe Biden, if the current vice president throws his hat in the ring for president.

While local Democrats generally support Patrick as a potential national candidate, some Republicans — perhaps not surprisingly — pan the idea of the former governor appearing on a presidential ticket.

Count former Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown, a Republican, among those who scoffs at the idea. Brown, who is hosting Republican presidential candidates for a “No B.S. BBQ” series at his New Hampshire home, told the Boston Herald this weekend the prospect of Patrick on a presidential ticket is a joke.

“Patrick is a joke, please,” Brown Sunday after hosting Republican presidential candidate Carly Fiorina. “I hope that he runs, that way it will be a definite loss.”

Local Democrats have jumped to Patrick’s defense, calling him a solid candidate “who would be very worthy for consideration for a vice presidential spot,” New Hampshire Democratic National Committee member Kathy Sullivan told the Herald.

Patrick, who served for eight years as Massachusetts’ governor, is a former civil rights lawyer at the Department of Justice who served as legal counsel to companies like Coca-Cola and Texaco. He has a close relationship with President Obama.

For his part, Patrick has hinted in the past that he would be interested in a national campaign. “Maybe, but not right away,” he said last year about the prospect of running for president as he was nearing the end of his tenure as governor.

What do you think? Would Deval Patrick be a viable running mate for a presidential candidate, and should Vice President Joe Biden add him to the ticket if he runs?