Notes From D.R. | Random Thoughts on the Passing Scene

Could Kerry Healey re-emerge in 2007 as Deval Patrick’s critic-in-chief?

Patrick’s own desire to preserve his future political career may be enough to prevent him from moving too far to the left, but if it does not, I wouldn’t be surprised if Healey reestablishes herself as a one-woman "watchdog agency" monitoring the Patrick administration.

With nothing to lose, Healey could consistently call Patrick out on his excessive liberalism, possibly setting herself up for a 2010 rematch with the Together We Can Man. While the notion of Healey running for governor again seems far-fetched now, stranger things have happened in Massachusetts politics–and if Patrick repels the electorate by lurching left, Healey will be perfectly positioned to lead the state back in the right direction.

As a Patrick critic, Healey will be able to rehabilitate her image, learning from the mistakes she made on the 2006 campaign trail. If she was too harsh, too negative, too abrasive this year, she’ll be more reasoned, more restrained, more personable–and more appealing to the Bay State electorate.

Everyone assumes that we won’t have Kerry Healey to kick around anymore. Everyone assumes that there are no second acts in Massachusetts politics.

What if everyone’s assuming the wrong thing? What if Healey takes advantage of Patrick’s political mistakes to become the odds-on favorite in an election rematch? What if Healey, four years from now, becomes the candidate seen as no ordinary leader?