RSS Feed MenuNew York Governor David Paterson was the last person in his state, perhaps the country, who believed he had a reason to run for reelection in 2010. But, now, even he admits that he has no chance and the time has come to call it a day.
Today Paterson announced that he is quitting his campaign. The final straw in his beleaguered gubernatorial career came from a New York Times story that revealed Paterson got involved in a domestic violence case with David Johnson, a close Paterson confidant who stands accused of beating up his longtime companion. Paterson has had all sorts of ugly accusations thrown at him, many of which have not been disputed, but this particular incident involves him speaking to the accuser on the phone and deploying his security detail to influence the situation.
We noted back on February 10 that the Times was working on a story that could potentially bury the governor, but it turned out that the story did not surface and Paterson was given yet another reprieve. But now we know what that story was about, and it turns out that the scuttlebutt was right in determining that this item would be the final nail in Paterson’s political coffin.
There is no need to get into the sordid details of this latest episode on this site. The dailies and other blogs will no doubt address all that. What is most important is the speculation of what will happen to the State of New York now that its second consecutive chief executive has succumbed to extra-political hijinks in as little as three years.
It is unlikely that Paterson will step down outright, even though the New York Daily News has called for exactly that.
So now with Paterson out of the race, State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo is the odds-on favorite for the Democratic nomination, and, at this point, the governorship. Republican candidate Rick Lazio, who spent a bit of time actually praising Paterson’s fortitude with the moribund and corrupt state legislature, is so far silent on this issue. That’s a good move. Lazio still trails Cuomo in all polls, but he is gaining in recognition, mostly because he represents a change.
Politically, change is what 2010 is all about. Cuomo is golden for Democrats, but he may have to step in as AG if/when it is determined that Paterson used his office to influence private affairs. If that is truly the case, then Lazio may have a short stairway to the top of the heap. And New York State right now is a heap. But fresh faces can do fresh things. We’ll have to see how this unfolds.
dendup // Feb 27, 2010 at 10:04 am
Predicting NY State politics is pretty hazardous, but I gotta say, this is a pretty rosy spin on Lazio’s chances. The same poll puts Cuomo ahead of Lazio 54% to 35%.
It’s charitable to call Lazio a weak candidate in any event. Scott Brown was a good candidate facing a candidate that is even weaker than Lazio. In other words, Brown had an opportunty and the savy to exploit it.
Facing Cuomo, Lazio has less of an opportunity, and much less savy to turn the sour mood of the electorate to his advantage.
franco 2 // Feb 27, 2010 at 11:06 am
This is a non-stroy. Patterson never had a chance to win a primary. Lazio is a loser.
Paterson’s Exit Opens Door for GOP - Hip Hop Republican // Feb 27, 2010 at 11:42 am
[...] Read More: http://www.frumforum.com/ny-gov-race-cuomos-to-lose [...]
JeninCT // Feb 27, 2010 at 2:22 pm
Cuomo will win against anyone but Rudy. Voter anger will only go so far. Besides, the angriest NYers now live in other states.
GOProud // Feb 27, 2010 at 11:50 pm
Today, in John Edwards’s America, there are two types of Democrat incumbents.
1) those who withdraw from the contest because they know how thin the ice is for them and skating faster just won’t cut it;
and 2) cowardly, dishonest moral reprobates like Patterson who hide behind excuse #1 after sensing their conduct finally crossed the line.
I’m wondering in Charlie Rangel (D) will be next? Murtha got lucky; Satan finally called him back.
kevin47 // Feb 28, 2010 at 1:13 am
This seems to be a case where the person who wrote the piece did not write the headline.
JeninCT // Feb 28, 2010 at 11:28 am
GOProud // wrote:
“Today, in John Edwards’s America, there are two types of Democrat incumbents.
1) those who withdraw from the contest because they know how thin the ice is for them and skating faster just won’t cut it;”
Like Chris Dodd
“and 2) cowardly, dishonest moral reprobates like Patterson who hide behind excuse #1 after sensing their conduct finally crossed the line.
I’m wondering in Charlie Rangel (D) will be next?”
We can only hope!!
CentristNYer // Feb 28, 2010 at 3:48 pm
GOProud // wrote:
“Today, in John Edwards’s America, there are two types of Democrat incumbents.”
Of course, in the world of Republican incumbents, you have only one kind: moral reprobates who keep their jobs and remain defiant. (Vitter, Ensign, Sanford)
andydp // Feb 28, 2010 at 7:31 pm
Frankly, Andrew Cuomo is quite popular here in NYS. Lazio would have a very hard time even with Tea Party support. Don’t forget most Democratic votes and majority of NYS voters are in the heavily Democratic NYC area. Yes, Paterson’s withdrawal opens up a door, but it also insures a single effort by the Democrats vs wasting money on a vicious primary battle.
Interesting poll had former GOP Gov Pataki leading incumbent Senator Gillibrand by a very wide margin.
Reference the “morals of politicians” look here too…
http://www.citizensforethics.org/
Type in “most corrupt in congress” for a list of GOP and Democrat lawmakers
JeninCT // Feb 28, 2010 at 11:18 pm
Pataki’s still very popular in NY. I’d love to see him run against Gillibrand. And I agree, Lazio will have a tough time regardless.
GOProud // Mar 1, 2010 at 11:08 am
CentristNYer, sorry to say… the thread is about a moral reprobate replacement (Patterson-D) for a disgraced and dishonored moral reprobate governor (Elliot Spitzer-D).
John Edwards made famous his nonsense about a 2 America reality while he engaged in morally repugnant conduct and frauded mostly Democrat voters into believing he was a family man of high morals.
If you want to comment about the failings of GOPers, I’d suggest you head back to DailyKos or HuffPo… that’s the right venue and you’ll have a million threads to trash people NOT included in the article.
As hard as it is for farLefties, Centrist… try staying on topic. Patterson, reprobate; can’t win a primary contest. He can’t because he likely tried to “muscle” a rape victim for his political benefit… not every city is run like Chicago and not ever pol is an Obama-styled Chicago thug. You can push and strike newsreporters to the street in Massachusetts, but you should never muscle a rape victim –unless, it seems, you’re a Democrat.