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Jan 21, 2008 8:06 pm US/Eastern
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MLK Day Fireworks Light Up Sharpton Event
Spitzer Blindsided; Bloomberg Drops Another Hint
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
Martin Luther King Day in New York City has traditionally been intertwined with politics, but this particular holiday was more political than usual when The Rev. Al Sharpton dropped a bombshell about the presidency, the U.S. Senate, and black power in New York.
Talk about having the political chair pulled out from under you -- that's what happened to Gov. Eliot Spitzer on Monday.
"If Mrs. Clinton is successful, there will be an open Senate seat in New York. There's only one black in the U.S. Senate and if there's an open seat, it's up to [Spitzer] to fill the seat," Sharpton declared at his annual event celebrating the life and career of the great Dr. King.
The person that Sharpton referred to was Lt. Gov. David Paterson. Spitzer looked downright uncomfortable when Sharpton began speaking, but it got even hotter for the governor when Sharpton went a step further with his statement.
"I don't want to put you on the spot; I just thought I'd bring it up. But I want to let you see there are some people qualified," Sharpton added.
Indeed, Sharpton was clearly pushing Paterson as the next senator from New York. For Paterson, the strong statement was duly noted.
"He has done it again. You ever see that movie 'Dead Man Walking?' That's how I feel now," Paterson said.
But there were more shenanigans at the Sharpton event.
In election years, Sharpton's King Day celebration is noted for the candidates for public office who stop by. Knowing that, Mayor Michael Bloomberg dropped yet another hint about his presidential aspirations.
"I'm not sure, Al, don't you interview for higher office," Bloomberg said.
"You can pick a number now if you like," Sharpton quipped back.
"Thank you very much," laughed Bloomberg.
In the meantime, the three main Democrats joined together to salute Dr. King at a rally in South Carolina. The state is the next step for Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, and John Edwards.
Clinton got some good news on Monday as a new Siena College poll put her way out in front of Obama in New York with Super Tuesday fast approaching.
Clinton received 48 percent, followed by Obama with 23 percent and Edwards with 10 percent.
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