David Paterson Vows to Seek Office, Despite Obama Request
UPDATED
Fearing that unpopular New York Governor David Paterson's presence at the top of the ticket could drag down Democratic candidates statewide, the White House has asked Paterson to step aside and not run in 2010. Paterson, at least for the moment, has rebuffed that request:
"Asked how he would run as a Democrat without White House support, Mr. Paterson said, 'I am running for governor right now. I have no idea — I am a candidate for governor.' ... 'I have had a number of different conversations with a number of different people,' he added. 'They are confidential.' Still, even as Mr. Paterson publicly vowed to continue, two prominent Democrats who had spoken to him over the weekend described him as mulling his options and open to the possibility of withdrawing. The two spoke on condition of anonymity because the conversations were intended to be confidential. News that the White House had involved itself in the governor’s contest in New York set off wide-ranging reaction on Sunday, and Mr. Paterson’s aides seemed shaken that the discussions with the White House had become public. The plan to appeal to Mr. Paterson to step aside was proposed by the president’s political team and approved by Mr. Obama."
Watch Paterson discuss his intentions, AFTER THE JUMP...
UPDATE: Obama arrives in Albany to awkward hug from Paterson. RNC Chair Michael Steele injects race into the decision.
Posted Sep. 21,2009 at 7:50 AM EST by Andy Towle in Barack Obama, David Paterson, Democratic Party, New York, News | Permalink
This is still a FREE country and he should run if he wants to.
Posted by: CB | Sep 21, 2009 8:34:36 AM
Paterson can't run for re-election as governor, as he was never elected governor in the first place. He got the job when Spitzer resigned.
Posted by: Roscoe | Sep 21, 2009 8:35:29 AM
Could someone from NY explain the Paterson hatred to me? I left NYC about a year and a half ago, and at the time I left people liked him (and I still like him -- I thought he was doing a great job). I don't understand how it all changed so fast.
Posted by: Michael | Sep 21, 2009 9:13:42 AM
This is one of the many flavours of crap that makes politics so sickening.
Yes, you have to get your people elected to get things done - but is there no level to which we refuse to stoop?
Too early to read this story - makes me want to puke.
Posted by: MammaBear | Sep 21, 2009 9:54:32 AM
Michael
How he handled the filling of Hillary's seat did it for most people.
Obama is p'd because he screwed over Caroline Kenedy and put in a dlue dog leaving open a house seat in a district that leans heavily repub giving the repubs a chance tot ake the seat. Obama supposedly asked patterson to not promote the one he did thus a metaphorical slap across Obama's face. Its personal = ALL politics is personal
Posted by: jimmyboyo | Sep 21, 2009 10:28:38 AM
sorry for the typos
Posted by: jimmyboyo | Sep 21, 2009 10:29:38 AM
It doesn't look like Patterson will listen to Obama.
Posted by: Amy | Sep 21, 2009 4:00:45 PM
As a former Hillary guy, I was personally appalled that Obama wanted Caroline in Hillary's seat. It was the biggest Bitch slap ever after the way the Kennedys treated Hillary and Bill. So too effin' bad.
I love my Prez, but, meddling in state politics is something he should avoid, especially the messy NY kind of state politics.
Posted by: Derek Washington | Sep 21, 2009 4:12:15 PM
Well Derek,
As much as I love your reads. I'm from NYC (Bklyn) to be exact. As much as NY loves Hillary just remember she's NOT and NEVER WAS a native NY'kr she moved there to get that seat and because of the BLUE LOVE in NY she wouldn't be denied. As for Caroline Kennedy she does and has been living in NY for years so I really didn't see the issue there. With Gillibrand I'm not sure if she can win again. If upstate likes her which is more conservative she'll have their support but downstate if they see her as TOO BLUE DOG she's dust!
As far as Patterson is concerned he's been made a "LAME DUCK WALKING" and with alot of anger going on in NY right now Rudy believe it or not could easily sweep in and win and that is something NY'kers canNOT afford.
Posted by: Chris | Sep 22, 2009 12:43:14 AM
If the Dems loose NY it'll be due to Obama. Obama must be a one-termer , lest the national party be destroyed.
Posted by: nanker | Sep 22, 2009 8:25:48 AM