Obama says no but Gov Paterson says yes

David Paterson (upper photo) was elevated to governor from lieutenant governor in March 2008 after governor Eliot Spitzer resigned because of a prostitution scandal.

After Paterson moved into the New York governor’s mansion, he has alienated Washington Democrats by not choosing Carolyn Kennedy (center photo) to occupy the Senate seat vacated by Hillary Clinton after her appointment to Secretary of State. Instead, Paterson chose Kirsten Gillibrand (lower photo), a moderate Democrat from the northern part of the state.

Paterson announced in October that he would seek a full term.

Now Mr. Obama has asked Mr. Paterson to step aside to allow a stronger candidate to run.

The general election is more than a year away, but Mr. Obama and his political team are moving now in part because of signals from Rudolph Giuliani, the former New York City mayor, that he may run for governor, according to Democrats who have spoken with White House officials.

Mr. Paterson, however, appeared at a parade in Harlem on Sunday, and told a crowd of reporters that he would not abandon his campaign to seek a full term.

Paterson, who is black, as well as blind, said at the 40th annual African-American Day Parade, “I have said time and time again that I am running for governor next year.”

Obama critics are wondering why the White House is meddling in New York state politics. But then, if Obama can fire the CEO of General Motors, who’s to stop him from choosing who will run for governor of New York?

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