For Obama and Patrick, a long friendship and political bond

JULIE PACE AP Washington Bureau Chief WASHINGTON (AP) — Deval Patrick was in need of a pep talk. He was staring down reelection as Massachusetts governor in 2010, in the midst of a sluggish economic recovery that would ultimately contribute to sweeping Democratic defeats across the country. In stepped President Barack Obama, a close friend and political ally, who was in town for an event. The two men met for a “get in the game” conversation that helped put Patrick on the path to a second term. “I think it was very meaningful to Deval,” said David Axelrod, a political adviser to both Obama and Patrick. “That’s the kind of relationship they have. There’s a level of trust and mutual caring between them.” That relationship will test whether Obama can maintain his vigoro