Paterson Says He Will Run, Rejecting Call From Obama

[Indigent]

Source: New York Times

9-20-09

Gov. David A. Paterson defiantly vowed to run for election next year despite the White House‘s urging that he withdraw from the New York governor’s race.

Appearing tired and agitated at a parade in Harlem on Sunday, the governor told a crowd of reporters that he would not abandon his campaign to seek a full term.

“I have said time and time again that I am running for governor next year,” he said at the 40th annual African-American Day Parade.

Mr. Paterson would not characterize what he was told by the White House, saying that he would not “discuss confidential conversations.”

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/20/nyregion/20paterson.html?hp

[saltpoint]

1. Well, ok, Governor. It's your call after all.

But it could be that on Primary night there won't be many balloons at your campaign headquarters.

[quiller4]

30. He'll sing a different tune soon because his money has dried up.

The big Democratic money in New York is all going to Cuomo.

[saltpoint]

34. That sounds right. The movement to Cuomo likely began long before

this little chat between Paterson and the White House.

A whole year ago it looked kind of wobbly for Paterson, actually.

[onehandle]

2. So liberal New York gets another Republican Governor.

Probably, if there is a nasty primary and definitely if Paterson wins.

[Indigent]

3. Well, Cuomo should simply not run a nasty campaign

It's that simple then.

[GodlyDemocrat]

8. Because of the friendly Cuomo family-Giuliani relationship

I don't think they want to run against each other. Gut feeling.

[quiller4]

31. There is little chance of Patterson winning a primary and he knows it.

[SuperTrouper]

33. Get used to Governor Rudolph Giuliani. Paterson is toast and he will sink the Democratic ticket

and Gillibrand is also vulnerable, depending on who is the candidate for the GOP for the US Senate, it won't be Peter King...

[madfloridian]

4. I don't think the WH should control who runs.

In congress or as a governor.

It takes away the power of the people of the party to control anything at all.

[Myrina]

17. Exactly!!!

n/t

[katkat]

18. WH

I see nothing wrong with Obama telling Paterson he couldn't get elected dog catcher. Parties try to field their strongest candidates all the time. Esp. at the top of a ticket, a loss drags down the rest of the ticket.

What I am curious to know is why it was leaked.

Plus, as a supporter of Caroline Kennedy for Senator, I am enjoying the karma of this being done to Paterson, who had his people do a hatchet job on her.

[RFKHumphreyObama]

29. +1

Despite what people here and elsewhere are saying, Presidents intervene in statewide and even local races all the time. Roosevelt, Truman and Clinton all did it, mostly for the reasons you outlined above.

And like you, I'm also enjoying the karma of this being done to Paterson. He's getting his just desserts

[Le Taz Hot]

32. THANK YOU!

I smell that snake Emmanuel behind this. Let's face it, he's got a long history of interfering in Democratic primaries. Unfortunately, MF, it's the Party who controls who runs and who is funded and backed and right now the Party IS Citizen Rahm.

[grytpype]

5. Kick him out of the Democratic Party.

Run someone else. Let him run as an Independent if he wants.

[GodlyDemocrat]

9. Um, this isnt the USSR

You can't just unilaterally kick someone out of the party.

[IndianaGreen]

11. This is not North Korea

where Dear Leader gets to pick who is on the ballot.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

20. why? what has he done to deserve it?

[JeanGrey]

6. The only good thing about this and we don't have to hear

that Patterson not running is "racism" since it came from Obama. Good luck NY with Rudy.

[ellenfl]

7. does anyone know WHAT the wh told him? maybe they wished

him luck with his campaign. where is this rumor coming from anyway?

ellen fl

[harkadog]

10. Apparently you didn't read the link in the OP

[ellenfl]

12. do YOU know what obama's message was? how do you

know for sure it happened?

a lot of misinformation about most everything is going around and i wanted to have some confirmation. that's all.

ellen fl

[secondwind]

16. There is an article in today's NYT about this............

[ellenfl]

27. i read that. never mind. eom

[katkat]

19. link

I read the link in the OP. It quotes the usual cowardly anonymous sources. So who knows what's true.

[Psephos]

28. The anonymous sources aren't cowardly, they're Machiavellian

It's done with complete calculation.

One of the worst offenders, btw, has the initials R.E.

[Chemisse]

13. These kinds of conversations probably happen all the time

What is unusual is that it became public.

[Chemisse]

14. Ahh, this could explain why it is being publically discussed

"The White House move could give them cover to abandon Mr. Paterson and endorse another candidate, most likely Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo, who has been debating for months whether to take on Mr. Paterson in a primary."

[Cha]

24. Good point..

We'll have to see if that happens.

[secondwind]

15. The blind Gov. can't SEE why he should not run..........not good, folks.

[appamado amata padam]

21. Haven't kept up with his policies,

but have to salute the guy; declines to "throw himself under the bus."

[ruggerson]

22. He's one of the good guys

n/t

[Cha]

25. He's a good guy..

but, he's not popular in New York as Governor and we want a Dem to win in 2010.

[bc3000]

23. I wouldn't vote for someone who ignores a call from the POTUS

[girl gone mad]

26. Good.

We need Cuomo right where he is. If that means losing the Governorship to Giuliani, so be it.

[robcon]

35. I don't think Obama should play kingmaker.

Let the people and the local party decide. The president should butt out.