July 2, 2009 Broadside: Gov. Patrick comparison test Play video

(NECN: Jim Braude) - The event was classic Deval Patrick.

The "yes we can" governor is at his best when he has something to celebrate. In this case, signing the ethics reform bill.

And then Patrick pulled off one of his "mis-direction plays"

He threw praise to the "heroes" of the ethics bill.

But Patrick’s real target was the person he failed to mention. Senate President Murray, and everyone noticed.

So, give him points for legislative achievement --and-- payback, all in one afternoon. Yes, it's true.

Patrick is taking the heat for tax hikes and lots of budget cuts. His poll numbers aren't great. He's even lagging in fundraising.

But as to "how he's doing", let's make a comparison.

In California, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is floundering. He can't get the House and Senate to balance the budget, he's paying bills with IOUs, and he's probably grateful he's limited to one term.

Meanwhile in Illinois, does the name "Pat Quinn" ring a bell? He's the sad-sack who had to step into the mess left behind by Rod Blagojevich.

Yesterday Quinn vetoed the budget handed him by the legislature. Unless he can win this showdown, in two weeks he'll be governor of a state that's broke.

But Quinn is sitting pretty compared to David Paterson. The New York governor can't even get the state senate to meet.

He’s done everything but hire "Dog the bounty hunter" to force the senators back into the chamber.

So,

Sure, he could be doing better -- but he could be doing a lot worse. And I’m not even counting Mark Sanford, because his problems are just off the charts.