BOSTON, Jan. 5 New Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick took the oath of office behind an old wooden podium with the state seal on it because other state seals were missing.Some of Patrick's aides were inclined to blame the staff of outgoing Gov. Mitt Romney, the Boston Herald said. But a spokesman for the presumed Republican presidential candidate said the seals, which have a Velcro back to be attached to anything, were in a box in the statehouse pressroom.We had a fine podium and it was a fine day, said Patrick spokesman Steve Crawford. People know who the governor is now. He doesn't need to stand behind a seal for people to know who the governor is.Patrick is Massachusetts' first black governor and the first Democrat to hold the office since Michael Dukakis.When Romney took the traditional solo walk down the statehouse steps to Boston Common, he was reportedly accompanied by a hired camera crew and had a wireless microphone to record his encounters with the public. The walk signifies that the governor is rejoining the people.It was Norma Desmondesque, one political observer said. Like the final scene in 'Sunset Boulevard.' He was ready for his closeup.Copyright 2007 by UPI
