Narrowing the field of potential Democratic presidential contenders even further, Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick took himself out of the running for the 2016 race Sunday.
“I’ve thought about it, but no, I can’t get ready for 2016,” he told NBC on Sunday. He said he didn’t view governorship as a stepping-stone to a higher office. “I didn’t run for the job just to get another job.”
Patrick, 58, is stepping down after two terms and was considered an outside possibility to run. However, the buzz surrounding him diminished after the Democratic Party’s nominee to succeed him, Martha Coakley, was defeated by Republican Charlie Baker in this fall’s election.
Patrick distanced himself from Coakley’s defeat Sunday, rejecting the notion that it somehow represented a reaction to his governorship. “I wasn’t on the ballot [this year]. I ran against the governor-elect four years ago, and we had a different outcome then.”
The announcement leaves former Virginia Sen. Jim Webb as the only prominent Democrat to have officially declared he is running. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has not officially declared but is widely presumed to be running and is seen as the front-runner if she does.
Other potential candidates include Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, who is an independent but caucuses with the Democrats. Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley is also a potential contender. Like Patrick, he is stepping down from office and being replaced by a Republican.
Liberal groups have pressed Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren to run, but she has repeatedly denied any intention of entering the race.
