Sep 21, 2009 6:06 am US/Eastern
Paterson To Run In 2010, Despite Democrat Concerns
NY Governor Defies Wishes Of Party, President Who Desire His Withdrawal From Race
Dems Worry That Paterson's Low Popularity, Poll Numbers Could Sink Entire Ticket
ALBANY (CBS) ―
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Then-Sen. Barack Obama, D.-Ill., stands with New York Gov. David Paterson, right, at a Democratic governors economic discussion on June 20, 2008, at the Chicago History Museum in Chicago, Ill.
Jeff Haynes/Getty Images
In an extraordinary and unusual intervention in a state political race, President Obama has asked Governor David Paterson to withdraw from the governor's race – presumably to prevent a potential bloodbath next year that could hand the governorship, several upstate congressional seats, and control of the state senate to Republicans.
As political bombshells go, it was second only to how David Paterson became governor in the first place – by default, after Eliot Spitzer resigned amid a prostitution scandal.
But having the nation's first black president tell the state's first black governor not to run has been brewing for some time.
"They don't want the Republicans to get a head of steam and to build up a lot of momentum going into the midterm elections or the 2010 elections," Errol Lewis said.
The possibility of Republican Rudy Giuliani running for governor terrifies the White House, as does Governor Paterson's low approval and plummeting popularity. Getting Paterson out of the race would clear the way for New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, currently the most popular Democrat in the state.
A Quinnipiac University poll conducted last month had Cuomo beating Paterson 61 percent to 15 percent, with a 2.4 percent margin of error, in a Democratic primary.
Still, a clearly defensive Paterson said Sunday that he won't step aside.
"My plans for 2010 are to run for governor of the state of New York," Paterson said.
There are many ramifications to the president's actions. First, it is a green light for Cuomo to run without exacerbating racial tensions. It also gives black political leaders cover to endorse Cuomo.
But there are also ramifications for the mayoral race. The president's actions have already led to calls for him to endorse and campaign for Bill Thompson, which is probably why the mayor seemed less than thrilled to be asked about the president's move.
"They'd have to talk together, and I just don't know," Bloomberg said. "I assume they're good friends," Bloomberg said.
Apparently not. While the mayor was front and center when the president spoke in the financial district last week, the governor apparently wasn't invited. On Sunday, he balked at talking about his conversations with the White House.
"I'm not going to discuss confidential conversations; that's not what I'm about," Paterson said.
Monday should be a tad uncomfortable for the governor, as he's scheduled to attend a speech on the economy to be delivered by the president at a community college in upstate Troy.
AG Cuomo will also be in attendance at that engagement.
New York politicians are also waiting to see what, if anything, the president says when he tapes the David Letterman Show on Monday.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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