No doubt about it...

the Governor's numbers are bad.
Nonetheless the situation isn't hopeless by any means, Patrick is about to get the three way race he craves and the best contenders in the GOP is a complete unknown and a wealthy blabbermouth with a tendency to giggle inanely like Cesar Romero's Joker.
Much will be made by the usual suspects by the five point lead now held by Charlie Baker...If after all that has happened this year, Patrick is only down five points well, then this is by no means a GOP shut-out in the making.
And by the way, just how did Charlie get himself that nice price on that sweet heap in Swampscott after all?
As for Crazy Christy Mihos, sure he has drawn even with Patrick, but just let the 2006 Independent Candidate for Governor start talking or rather start shouting and rolling his eyes for a few weeks then revisit those numbers sez I.
Governor Patrick does have his work cut out for him, you have to count the silver spoons every time the legislature is in session, times are tough in the Commonwealth and some of his problems are of his own making quite frankly.
I think the Governor ought to go the Harry Truman route, defy all, remind anyone who will listen what he did he did for the greater good and get in their faces soonest.
Harry made some bad appointments, was seen as bungling certain situations and was considered a gone goose in 1947, well he fought back in 1948 all the way to victory and Patrick ought to do the same. Metaphorically, Patrick has one key advantage, if they were in office, none of his opponents would substantively do anything any differently...The cuts, the grabbing for stimulus money...Except maybe they'd all lie about raising taxes to cover the state's deficit.
They will all say they are better, but can't propose to do anything else without risk of coming off as demented, therein lies a political trap to snare them all if Deval Patrick can just oil the hinges carefully enough.