Massachusetts Democratic Gov. Deval Patrick received a surprise call from President Barack Obama on Thursday's "Ask the Governor" finale show, MSNBC reported.

Introducing himself as a former resident of Somerville, Mass., the president called into Boston Public Radio on Thursday to say goodbye to Patrick, who was hosting his finale "Ask the Governor" segment when the surprise call came in from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

"Governor, this is Barack Obama, formerly of Somerville. I've got a few complaints about service in and around the neighborhood, but I've moved down South since that time...," the president joked.

"You're kidding, Mr. President. Who is this impersonator? You're very good. Who is this, really?" Patrick, who has routinely done the "Ask the Governor" show during his eight years at the state's helm, responded on his WGBH-FM radio call-in show.

But Obama, who lived in the area when he was a student at Harvard Law School, insisted he was for real and was just calling to "let my dear friend know how proud I am."

When Obama questioned him on how he had been able to make Massachusetts "so strong" and move it "in the right direction," Patrick poked fun at the president's pronunciation of his home state's name, according to NBC News.

"Mr. President, you know I love you, but you still have trouble saying 'Massachusetts.' You know that, don't you?"

"There's a little lisp thing that develops when I say Massachusetts," the president admitted. "I can spell it, though."

The president also went on to praise the departing Democrat for his tenure as Governor of the state, saying "Deval, you've done good, man."

"It means a lot coming from you Mr. President," Patrick responded.

Obama rented an apartment in Somerville, a town that borders Cambridge, while attending Harvard Law School in 1988, New York Daily News reported. Over 17 years, he earned a series of parking tickets and failed to pay the $117 in unpaid fees until he entered public office.

On Thursday's show, the radio host wrapped up the session by asking, "you paid all those parking tickets in Somerville, correct?"

"I think I had to before I took office otherwise I wouldn't have been able to step into the Commonwealth without being arrested," Obama replied.