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| Governor Paterson bucks President Obama: I'm still going to run in 2010 |
| 2009-09-21 |
| A defiant Gov. Paterson Sunday said he still plans to run for a full four-year term next year despite a stunning White House request that the poll-challenged governor step aside. "I've said time and time again I am going to run for governor next year," Paterson said in Harlem. "My plans have not changed." Paterson did not deny a Sunday Daily News report that White House political director Patrick Gaspard met with him last Monday to discuss the concerns the Obama administration has with him - and their preference he not run next year. The message was also relayed Friday during a Paterson dinner with Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-Queens), a long time Paterson pal who told the governor that President Obama's chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel, does not view a Paterson candidacy as "tenable." The fear, sources say, is that former Mayor Rudy Giuliani would be more likely to enter the 2010 governor's race and win - and that Paterson will drag down other Democrats. Paterson's job approval rating has hovered at around 20% for months and a poll just last week showed 65% of Democrats hoping someone else would run. "I'm not going to discuss confidential conversations," Paterson said repeatedly. Things could be particularly uncomfortable Monday as Paterson aides say the governor plans to attend an economic speech Obama is due to deliver in the Albany area. Paterson, according to sources, was not invited to Obama's Wall Street speech last Monday, the day his meeting took place with Gaspard. Paterson received very little support Sunday, even from his closest allies, as word spread of the White House's involvement. The Rev. Al Sharpton, long a Paterson supporter, sent out a non-committal statement that could be best described as muted. Sharpton said he has spoken to Paterson and Obama aides to express his concern "that we do what is best for the people of the state of New York and towards the goal of enacting the change policies in education and health that we voted for." Mayor Bloomberg said he would tell Paterson what he would tell anyone who wants to run for office - "go for it." |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #5 Popcorn please. |
| Posted by: JohnQC 2009-09-21 23:28 |
| #4 I don't think Andrew Cuomo has a lock on the primary. He's got the name, but there's enough NY Democrats who aren't crazy about him. Odds are you'll see the US Secretary of State getting all sorts of 'new responsibilities' and 'a more active role in foreign policy' in the next few months. |
| Posted by: Pappy 2009-09-21 21:40 |
| #3 Wait and see, Paterson will fold for 'personal reasons...' (maybe a touch of the Chicago Flu) |
| Posted by: USN, Ret. 2009-09-21 21:22 |
| #1 So is Paterson racist because he disagrees with Zero? |
| Posted by: Glenmore 2009-09-21 12:50 |