Deval a No-Go for 2016

Outgoing MA Gov. Deval Patrick has decided not to run for president in 2016, according to his appearance on “Meet the Press” on Sunday.

Patrick, who has made a number of appearances in the Granite State during the last few years, leading to speculation that he might run in the First-in-the-Nation primary, said that he didn’t run for governor twice to just open up another door for higher office. He rattled off a number of accomplishments that might be considered by potential primary voters – including his work improving education and healthcare in the state – but ultimately, he decided to pass.

Patrick also suggested that presumptive candidate – and nominee – former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, might want to dampen the inevitability talk.

“Secretary Clinton has been an extraordinary public servant and would be a terrific candidate for president,” said Patrick. “But I think that the narrative that it’s inevitable is off-putting to regular voters.”

WBZ-TV political analyst Jon Keller, after hearing the news, suggested that Patrick could still run in 2020, when he would only be 60-years-old, and would probably remain on the Democrats’ short list, regardless of what he is saying now.

One potential candidate for 2016 for the Democratic nomination is former U.S. Sen. Jim Webb of Virginia, who said he was forming an exploratory committee after hearing from hundreds of people who are urging him to run. The former Marine and Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs under President Ronald Reagan, said he hoped to speak to even more people about a potential presidential run in the coming weeks and months.