With a new poll showing the race for governor is in a statistical dead heat, union and their political clout are taking center stage.

In a change of course from four years ago, the Professional Fire Fighters of Massachusetts is backing Gov. Deval Patrick for re-election. This is the same union that wouldn’t agree to drug and alcohol testing as a means that could potentially identify troubled firefighters for counseling or for life saving treatment without a payoff from the city.

The Union President, Robert McCarthy, told reporters that “this [the race for governor] is not a reality show. This is not a popularity contest. He goes on to make the following statement:

I’ve worked with Charlie Baker at A and F. (Administration and Finance) and I wasn’t too impressed with it. And now he’s telling me and the people of this Commonwealth that he’s going to layoff at a time we need new jobs?”

Referring to Patrick, McCarthy then said, “The guy behind me knows how to create jobs. This whole election is about jobs, jobs, jobs.”

We have too many public sector jobs already, Mr. McCarthy. What we need are more private sector jobs that actually produce something and generate more revenue that can ultimately be used by employers as circulating capital to fund new jobs, salaries and benefits as well as business expansion. Your man, Deval, knows nothing of how to do that; he is simply good at sticking the taxpayers with more salaries to fund that contribute nothing to the overall economic health of the nation.