Patrick: Not Interested In Obama's HHS Position

Gov. Deval Patrick says he's still not going anywhere, despite a vacancy in President Barack Obama's Cabinet as health and human services secretary.

The Democrat's staff issued a statement Wednesday saying Patrick has said "countless times" he is not leaving Massachusetts and plans to run for re-election next year.

The HHS job opened Tuesday when Tom Daschle asked that his nomination be withdrawn because of reports about his prior unpaid taxes and questions about potential conflicts from some of his work after stepping down as Senate majority leader.

Patrick is friendly with the president and was even invited back to the White House last month for a 2 a.m. dessert following an evening of inauguration balls.

Patrick was previously suggested as a possible nominee for attorney general.