Deval Patrick Paving the Way for Obama?

Deval Patrick, one of Obama's best friends and proteges, is getting hammered in the polls, despite being governor of the most liberal state in the country. Only 33% of voters say they would vote for him while 57% say they would vote against him. Unless he reverses course and cuts taxes to grow the economy, it looks like a Republican may be returning to the state house in Massachusetts.
And since Obama is even more radical than Patrick covering a much more conservative area, he could be in for similar trouble.