Mass. Gov., an Obama Ally, to Pitch Re-election

BOSTON (AP) — President Barack Obama is reaching out to an old friend and fellow Democrat as he prepares for a tough re-election campaign: Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick.

Patrick has hunkered down with Democratic National Committee Chairman Tim Kaine and Obama political adviser David Axelrod and is forming his own national political action committee to pay for his travels on the president's behalf.

One reason why Democrats are reaching out to Patrick? He was among the few in the party who ran a successful re-election campaign in a hostile political climate in 2010.

Like Obama, Patrick faced tough poll numbers and a slumping economy. But Patrick fought back with an upbeat message and superior organizing.

Now Patrick is preparing to take his story nationwide to help sell voters on a second Obama term.