The nation's other black governor

We've heard a lot about New York's new governor David Paterson in the past few weeks, but Paterson is not alone in the ranks of black governors. The other is Deval Patrick of Massachusetts, who is profiled today in the New York Times.

Under the headline, "Early Dazzle, Then Tough Path for a Governor," the above-the-fold, front-page Times story looks at Patrick's first year in office.

The governor speaks to admiring crowds on the campaign trail as a surrogate for Sen. Barack Obama, but at home "there is no such glow," according to the Times.

Just last week the governor was unable to get the Democratic-controlled state House of Representatives to approve a plan to increase revenues by licensing three new resort casinos, the Times reported. That's apparently because of a conflict between Patrick and Speaker Salvatore DiMasi, a Hillary Clinton supporter who has blocked some of Patrick's legislative efforts.

Patrick points to increased spending on education, housing and public safety and increased access to health care as some of his major achievements, according to the Times. He also mentioned his successful efforts to kill a constitutional amendment that would have banned same-sex marriage in the state, which has already legalized the practice. 

Patrick told the Times that he plans to continue campaigning for Obama, but don't look for him in a possible Obama Administration. He's ruled that out; he plans to stay on as governor.