Paterson Prepares for Campaign

By Karen DeWitt

Albany, New York – Governor David Paterson will soon formally announce his campaign to win election to the position he inherited nearly two years ago. The timing could not be worse for the beleaguered governor, who is struggling with a massive budget deficit, low poll numbers, and fighting off damaging rumors.

Paterson's inauguration on March 17, 2008, was greeted with relief by New Yorkers, who had barely absorbed the shocking news that Eliot Spitzer, who had won election in a landslide victory, had resigned, after his visits to high priced prostitutes was made public.

"Let me reintroduce myself," Paterson told the cheering crowd on that day. "I am David Paterson, and I am the governor of New York."

Paterson made history, as the state's first African American and legally blind governor, and for a time received the good will of the public.

Then came a series of missteps. He dithered in choosing a US Senator to replace Hilary Clinton, and his aides insulted Caroline Kennedy in the process. He abruptly changed his stance on budget matters, scrapping a message of fiscal austerity, and agreeing to increased taxes, fees and spending at the height of the recession. Less than a year into his tenure, Paterson's approval rating stood at a mere 18%.

Recently, the governor revived his tarnished image. He spent the fall talking tough, once again, about fiscal responsibility.

"Not on my watch am I going to allow us to fritter around and make reckless decisions at a time when the citizens of the state need leadership," Paterson declared when he announced a deficit closing plan in October.

He even withheld payments to schools and local governments in December when the legislature failed to adequately address a budget gap, and the state was low on funds.

His poll numbers started to climb.

In recent days, Paterson's confessions, on his second day as governor, of past extra marital affairs and drug use, came back to haunt him. He was the subject of widespread and virulent rumors that more personal transgressions were about to be revealed, through a pending New York Times story.
Nothing materialized, but Paterson has spent several days trying to put out the fires, calling them "false allegations, unsubstantiated rumors, and in some cases, straight out lies".

"It seems to be somewhat orchestrated," said Paterson.

And a new potential political problem is developing for the governor, over his awarding of a contract to run gambling machines at the Aqueduct Racetrack. A not for profit connected to the firm that received the contract, AEG, is being investigated by federal prosecutors.

And then there's the elephant in the room, the expected gubernatorial candidacy of State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo. Cuomo, the most popular politician in the state, has recently beefed up his campaign staff and may announce his run for governor in March. If that occurs, Cuomo would be the favorite of the Democratic Party, and could mean Paterson will have to fight just to win a spot on a primary ballot at the state party convention in May.

Mickey Carroll, a pollster with Quinnipiac University, says based on polling numbers, Cuomo has "a pretty clear field through the primary".

"Paterson is not in it against Cuomo," said Carroll.

Despite all the bad news and slim odds for his candidacy, Paterson is not likely to give up anytime soon. He's said repeatedly he won't quit, and will leave only by losing at the ballot box, or as he puts it, "in a box".