Mar 17, 2008 8:38 pm US/Eastern
Paterson Hits A Grand Slam In Albany
New Governor Gets Hero's Welcome During First Speech
ALBANY, N.Y. (CBS) ―
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David Paterson waves after delivering his first speech as New York's governor on March 17, 2008.
CBS
On Day 1, David Paterson hit a home run in his first at-bat.
Other governors have given speeches to the Legislature, but none have been welcomed like Paterson, who received thunderous ovation after thunderous ovation as he spoke with a fiery and intense passion to his government.
Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, who has served on the Legislature for many years, praised Paterson for his optimistic speech.
"This is so unprecedented, so amazing. In all my years, I have never seen a circumstance like that," he said. "They were cheering him as if he had just won the Super Bowl. This is bigger than Eli Manning."
Even Republican Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno, whose feud with Eliot Spitzer – who officially resigned an hour before Paterson was sworn in – was of historic proportions, had kind words for the Democrat.
"We've been good friends for a lot of years and I don't see that changing in any way. David is perceptive and he's traditional in that he knows how to govern and he knows how to be political, and I respect that," Bruno told CBS 2.
Proudest of all, naturally, was the Paterson family.
"It's just a wonderful day for a wonderful man," boasted Porrtia Paterson, the governor's mother.
Added his father, Basil Paterson, who was impressed at his son's ability to deliver a speech of such importance by memory because of his vision impairment: "Without a note, without a teleprompter – that's pretty good."
It seemed like the entire political firmament was in attendance. Hillary Clinton left the presidential campaign trail . George Pataki left his sick bed. Mass. Gov. Duval Patrick, N.J. Gov. Jon S. Corzone, and Conn. Gov. Jodi Rell were too.
"Someone who went through a similar circumstance has given me advice. Gov. Jodi Rell, governor, how did you do it?" said Paterson.
But with the state facing dire economic times, the question is whether Paterson can pass a Legislative agenda.
"Right now he's on an emergency – a budget due in two weeks. We've got to deal with that budget, so the Legislative agenda will have to take a back seat to the first purpose which is dealing with these troubling economic times and getting a budget in place," said Democratic Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver.
Paterson is off to a good start, but the clock is ticking. He has two weeks to pass a budget, and only time will tell if he can hit back-to-back home runs.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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