WBUR Newsroom Election 2008 CommonHealth Blog Boston Weather BBC World News NPR Top Stories NPR's Morning Edition NPR Topics: Books NPR Topics: Movies Fresh Air All Things Considered Marketplace Submit a Story Idea RSS Feeds Podcasts Candidate Conversation: Deval Patrick By Bob Oakes Listen to story (Real Audio) BOSTON, Mass. - October 18, 2006 - Recent poll numbers have shown Democrat Deval Patrick's lead over Republican Kerry Healey shrinking. The narrowing coincides with a barrage of Healey ads that contend Patrick is soft on crime. In particular, the Healey campaign has criticized Patrick for advocating parole for convicted rapist Benjamin La Guer. That was among the issues WBUR's Bob Oakes discussed with Patrick at his campaign office this week. In our series of conversations with the gubernatorial candidates, he began by asking Patrick if this was the campaign he was expecting. RELATED LINKS More Election Coverage Listen to the extended interview (28:52, mp3)    From The WBUR Newsroom Expert: Massachusetts Unemployment Rate Could Rise To 8.1 Percent By 2010 BOSTON (November 20, 2008) A UMass Boston public-policy professor says Massachusetts could see its jobless rate rise to 8.1 percent in the next two years. Mass. Umemployment Rate Rises To 5.5 Percent BOSTON (November 20, 2008) The Massachusetts unemployment rate climbed to 5.5 percent last month, up from 5.3 percent in September. DiMasi Wants Fresh Consideration For Gas Tax Hike BOSTON (November 19, 2008) House Speaker Sal DiMasi on Wednesday made the clearest statement yet by a top Beacon Hill official that raising the state's 23.5-cents-per-gallon gas tax could be a good idea, releasing a statement suggesting the levy as an alternative to doubling tolls. Romney Adamantly Opposes Auto Industry Bailout WASHINGTON (November 20, 2008) Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney is standing steadfastly behind the forces opposing a $25 billion "bridge loan" for struggling Detroit auto manufacturers.