Gov. Deval Patrick revs up loyalists at Mass. Dem convention

WORCESTER, Mass.—Gov. Deval Patrick won his party's endorsement Saturday, spotlighting what he says are his administration's accomplishments, from ramping up the state's health care law and pushing through pension and transportation overhaul bills to backing the nation's first offshore wind farm.

Patrick appealed to delegates at the Massachusetts Democratic Party Convention to help him win a second term, saying they have a "generational responsibility" to fight for the state's most vulnerable.

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Patrick tried to re-ignite the fire that fueled his long shot victory four years ago, promising to finish the job he started -- from making sure that every resident who wants a job can find work to ensuring there are enough police officers to respond to youth violence. He also renewed a pledge he has been unable to fulfill -- lowering property tax rates.

WORCESTER -- Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick received the overwhelming endorsement of the Democratic activists gathered today for the party's nominating convention, declaring that the state is "on the mend and on the move" and telling delegates he wanted to continue the agenda of change he has pursued in his first term.

"We worked hard four years ago to change the guard. Now it's up to us to guard the change," Patrick, who was nominated along with his running mate, Lieutenant Governor Tim Murray, told the enthusiastic crowd of thousands gathered in the DCU Center arena. "This is our campaign, this is our cause. Let's go finish what we started."

Patrick touted the state's implementation of health care reform, continued support for school funding, and a "whole host of long-awaited and long-talked-about reforms," including pension, ethics, and transportation overhaul bills. He said there had been setbacks due to the stumbling economy, but he emphasized recent signs of recovery.

Still, he said, he wasn't satisfied. He said he wanted further improvements in the employment picture, better schools, more affordable health care, a reduction in property taxes, and an end to youth violence.