Obama talks up Patrick at fundraiser

BOSTON, Oct. 23 (UPI) -- Barack Obama took time out from his presidential duties Friday and turned to his political ones, speaking at a fundraiser for Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick.

Obama, the first black U.S. president, helped raise $600,000 for Patrick, the nation's second black governor, The Christian Science Monitor reported. That is more than Patrick had raised for his re-election campaign so far.

Patrick appears in trouble a year ahead of the gubernatorial election. Despite governing a state in which registered Democrats outnumber Republicans 3-to-1, one recent poll showed only 29 percent of registered voters favor giving him a second term, the Monitor said.

But Obama lauded Patrick, one of his early supporters, for delivering on reforms many in Massachusetts have sought "for decades" despite tough current economic times.

"He's taken on corruption, he's begun to rebuild the public trust by enacting the first comprehensive ethics and lobbying reform in three decades; transportation reform that's saved taxpayers almost $200 million; auto insurance reform that's introduced competition and saved the average family hundreds of dollars at a time when they need it most," Obama said.

He also credited Patrick with solidifying Massachusetts' position as a leader in biotechnology and clean energy, while promoting healthcare and education innovation.