President has low approval ratings because of "bad economy"

BOSTON - Gov. Deval Patrick says his friend President Barack Obama has seen his popularity fall because "he's been governing in a bad economy."

The Democrat told Charley Manning on the debut of his WRKO-AM program on Monday that the health care plan the president has been trying to push nationally doesn't seem "scary" to Massachusetts residents because it's been modeled on the plan in force in the state the past three years.

The governor says he's also seen his popularity plummet among traditionally Democratic labor unions because he has pushed through changes that have angered them.

He says he "didn't run to be governor of the Democrats," and instead has been trying to make decisions in the best long-term interest of the state.

Republican Sen. Scott Brown also was a guest on Monday's show.