STATE HOUSE, BOSTON, SEPT. 25, 2014.....Gov. Deval Patrick, who is heading later Thursday to Washington D.C., knocked down speculation that he may be in line to succeed Attorney General Eric Holder, who reportedly plans to step down.

"First of all I want to say of Eric Holder that he has distinguished himself and the role of the Attorney General, as Attorney General, and I thank him for his service to the administration and his service to the nation. That's an enormously important job but it's not one for me right now," Patrick said during a campaign stop Thursday morning in Hudson for lieutenant governor candidate Steve Kerrigan, according to press aides.

Without any supplemental information about the purpose of his trip, Patrick listed the D.C. visit on the public schedule his office released Wednesday. A political aide to Patrick said Thursday that he plans on Friday to attend a Congressional Black Caucus roundtable.

An aide in Patrick's office said late Thursday morning that Patrick has no events planned in Washington Thursday and that his Friday plans also include attending a Democratic National Committee fundraiser.

Patrick is not seeking re-election and has pledged to finish out his second four-year term in office. The governor has not ruled out a run for president in the future, and suggested he plans to return to the private sector after his eight-year run as governor wraps up.

Patrick's trip also comes as health care talks with the feds continue.

While the Patrick and Obama administrations are philosophically in sync on many health care policy and financing matters, they can't find common ground on a multi-year waiver worth billions of dollars to Massachusetts and its vast network of health and insurance programs.

A spokesman for Health and Human Services Secretary John Polanowicz confirmed Thursday that the Obama administration has granted a fifth extension of the state's three-year Medicaid waiver, which covered the period ending June 30, while conversations continue over Patrick's request for a five-year extension to the state's 17-year-old waiver.

The waiver represents a critical source of funding for state health insurance coverage efforts as well as for Massachusetts hospitals, particularly those that serve large numbers of low-income and uninsured individuals.

No waiver deal was reached by Wednesday, the most recent target for an agreement, and the new goal for an agreement is October 10.

Patrick's political wing reported Thursday that he planned three stops in Massachusetts with Steve Kerrigan, a candidate for lieutenant governor and Democrat Martha Coakley's running mate.

Patrick, Kerrigan and Lawrence Mayor Dan Rivera planned a "business walk" in Lawrence. At 11 a.m., the governor and Kerrigan were scheduled to visit Rail Trail Flatbread in Hudson, and at 12:15 p.m. they planned to stop in at Hanover Insurance Group in Worcester.

Patrick has a 2 p.m. Cabinet meeting planned in his State House office and plans to depart sometime after that for Washington D.C.

President Obama plans to make a personnel announcement at 4:30 p.m.