Former Massachusetts governor Deval Patrick WILL run for 2020 Democratic nomination

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Deval Patrick, 63, was Massachusetts' first African-American governor, serving from 2007 until 2015
Harvard-law grad as assistant attorney general for civil rights in the Clinton administration and later worked as an executive at Texaco and Coca-Cola
He is a friend and ally of Barack Obama and the 19th current member of the Democratic field - which has already seen 10 runners drop out
Patrick is a moderate who had told friends he was concerned about the ability of current candidates to win

By Emily Goodin, U.S. Political Reporter For Dailymail.com

Published: 15:29 EDT, 13 November 2019 | Updated: 10:55 EDT, 1 November 2020

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Former Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick has told friends he will make a dramatic late run for the Democratic presidential nomination, the New York Times reported Wednesday.

Patrick, a close friend and ally of former President Barack Obama, ruled out a presidential bid earlier this year but has since been talking with Democratic operatives and donors about launching a campaign.

Patrick is the first Democrat to jump in less than three months before the kickoff Iowa caucuses - but may not be the last.

Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg is also reconsidering a run, citing concerns about the current Democratic front-runners' ability to defeat President Donald Trump. Bloomberg is expected to make a final decision on his 2020 prospects within days.

The people with knowledge of Patrick's deliberations spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly.

He's in: Deval Patrick was governor of Massachusetts from 2007 to 2015, the first African-American to hold the post. The 63-year-old had previously ruled out a run

Front of the field: Elizabeth Warren and Joe Biden are both implicitly criticized by the entry of Deval Patrick into the already 18-strong Democratic field

Democrats plunged into the 2020 race with sky high enthusiasm about the prospects of defeating Trump and with a historic number of candidates vying for the nomination.

But as the field has started to dwindle, some in the party have raised concerns about the durability of former Vice President Joe Biden and the ability of liberal Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders to win in a general election.

Although Patrick ruled out a run late last year, he reopened conversations with close friends and aides over the summer but did not take active steps to form a campaign.

In recent days, those conversations have intensified, with Patrick gauging interest in a run with donors and Democratic operatives.

He faces big hurdles to launching a campaign at this late stage. Unlike Bloomberg, a mega-billionaire who would self-fund, Patrick would have to quickly raise money to build out a campaign operation and boost his familiarity with voters.

Some of his former political advisers are already working for other 2020 candidates, including his former chief of staff Doug Rubin, who is working for Tom Steyer.

Patrick, who made history as Massachusetts' first black governor and served from 2007 to 2015, could gain traction in neighboring New Hampshire, which holds the first primary contest.

However, he'd face stiff competition there from two other neighboring state candidates: Warren of Massachusetts and Sanders of Vermont.

New Hampshire's primary filing deadline is Friday.

Bloomberg plans to skip the early states, where candidates have camped out for months courting voters and building operations.

Instead, he's said he would focus on the crush of states that vote on March 3 - dubbed Super Tuesday - and beyond, where more delegates are at stake.

When Patrick decided last year not to run, he cited what he called the 'cruelty' of the election process.

'After a lot of conversation, reflection and prayer, I've decided that a 2020 campaign for president is not for me,' Patrick had posted on his Facebook page then.

Patrick said he and his wife worried that the 'cruelty of our elections process would ultimately splash back on people whom Diane and I love, but who hadn't signed up for the journey.'

For years, Patrick had been on an upward swing in Democratic politics, having served two terms as governor. He was only the country´s second black elected governor since Reconstruction.

In 2012, he gave a rousing speech in defense of Obama at the National Democratic Convention, urging fellow party members to 'grow a backbone' and fight for their ideals. Obama at the time was being challenged by former Republican Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney - Patrick´s predecessor in the governor´s office.

Amigos: Deval Patrick is a close friend and ally of former President Barack Obama. When Patrick decided last year not to run, he cited what he called the 'cruelty' of the election process

Patrick grew up in Chicago, Obama´s adopted home and went to Harvard and Harvard Law School. Both men have campaigned for each other.

Patrick has also tried to position himself over the years as slightly more moderate than some on the Democratic left.

After Donald Trump´s election, Patrick's initial criticism of the Republican president was somewhat less pointed than others in his party.

He said he was 'old-fashioned in the sense that I think nobody should cheer for failure. We need our presidents to succeed,' but said he was particularly concerned about what he described as Trump´s belittling of those with opposing points of view.

Patrick also urged the party at the time to look in the mirror, saying 'the outcome of the 2016 election was less about Donald Trump winning than Democrats and our nominee letting him do so.'

Last year, some of Patrick's supporters and close advisers launched the Reason to Believe political action committee, 'a grassroots organization dedicated to advancing a positive, progressive vision for our nation in 2018 and 2020.'

The PAC held meetups across the country, including in early presidential primary states, and was seen as a possible vehicle to help support a Patrick candidacy. It was formally dissolved earlier this year.

Early in his career, Patrick served as assistant attorney general for civil rights in the Clinton administration and later worked as an executive at Texaco and Coca-Cola. Since leaving the governor's office, Patrick has worked as a managing director for Bain Capital - a company co-founded by Romney.

Patrick's record as governor is mixed. His successes include helping oversee the 2006 health care law signed by Romney that would go on to serve as a blueprint for Obama's 2010 health law.

Also considered a success was a 2008 initiative pushed by Patrick that committed Massachusetts to spending $1 billion over 10 years to jump-start the state's life sciences sector.

There were also rough patches, including turmoil at the state Department of Children and Families following the deaths of three children.

Patrick was also forced to publicly apologize for a disastrous effort to transition to the federal health care law during which the state's website performed so poorly it created a backlog of more than 50,000 paper applications.

JOE BIDEN AND THE 28 DEMOCRATS HE RAN AGAINST TO BECOME PARTY'S 2020 CANDIDATE

JOE BIDEN

Age on Inauguration Day 2021: 78

Entered race: April 25, 2019

Career: No current role. A University of Delaware and Syracuse Law graduate, he was first elected to Newcastle City Council in 1969, then won upset election to Senate in 1972, aged 29. Was talked out of quitting before being sworn in when his wife and daughter died in a car crash and served total of six terms. Chaired Judiciary Committee's notorious Clarence Thomas confirmation hearings. Ran for president in 1988, pulled out after plagiarism scandal, ran again in 2008, withdrew after placing fifth in the Iowa Caucuses. Tapped by Obama as his running mate and served two terms as vice president. Contemplated third run in 2016 but decided against it after his son died of brain cancer.

Family: Eldest of four siblings born to Joe Biden Sr. and Catherine Finnegan. First wife Neilia Hunter and their one-year-old daughter Naomi died in car crash which their two sons, Joseph 'Beau' and Robert Hunter survived. Married Jill Jacobs in 1976, with whom he has daughter Ashley. Beau died of brain cancer in 2015. Hunter's marriage to Kathleen Buhle, with whom he has three children, ended in 2016 when it emerged Hunter was in a relationship with Beau's widow Hallie, mother of their two children. Hunter admitted cocaine use; his estranged wife accused him of blowing their savings on drugs and prostitutes

Religion: Catholic

Views on key issues: Ultra-moderate who will emphasize bipartisan record. Will come under fire over record, having voted: to stop desegregation bussing in 1975; to overturn Roe v Wade in 1981; for now controversial 1994 Violent Crime Act; for 2003 Iraq War; and for banking deregulation. Says he is 'most progressive' Democrat. New positions include free college, tax reform, $15 minimum wage. No public position yet on Green New Deal and healthcare. Pro-gun control. Has already apologized to women who say he touched them inappropriately

Would make history as: Oldest person elected president

Slogan: Our Best Days Still Lie Ahead

AND THE 28 WHO HAVE WITHDRAWN

MICHAEL BENNET, Colorado senator