New York Governor David Paterson Defends Himself
Paterson Plans to Run in 2010 Despite Sliding Poll Numbers
NBC’s David Gregory sat down with New York Governor David Paterson on “Meet the Press” Sunday in an exclusive interview to discuss the 2010 gubernatorial race. The Governor admitted the Obama administration is concerned about him as a candidate. But he said he will run anyway for the post he inherited from former Governor Eliot Spitzer who resigned amid a prostitution scandal. Paterson was Spitzer’s Lieutenant Governor. He had become the first African-American Governor of New York State and the first blind governor.
“I’m running for governor of the State of New York,” Paterson told Gregory.
Paterson’s poll numbers have been tanking since January. On Thursday, It was more bad news for the governor when a new Marist poll found that his job approval rating was at 17%, which is an all time low.
Paterson and Gregory didn’t seem to have the same facts about reports that top Democratic leaders including White House officials, have asked the governor to consider not to run in 2010.
"There are people who’ve told me not to run. There are a lot of people who’ve told me not to run," Paterson said on the show. Gregory kept asking the same question "but the White House specifically said, ‘don't run'?" "I don't know that," Paterson replied. "You don't know that? You certainly know you don't have their support," Gregory asked. "David, the White House has a country to run and I have a state to run," Paterson said. “President Obama has never told me not to run for governor,” he said.
The governor continued, “There’s politics that go on all the time. I’m blind but I’m not oblivious. I realize there are people who don’t want me to run. I’ve never got an explicit indication, authorize from the White House that I shouldn’t run.”
When asked if he was a drag on the Democratic Party, the governor said, “I don’t think I’m a drag on my party. I’m standing up for my party’s priorities.”
The governor said his poll numbers are down because of the tough decisions he’s made to cut $30 billion out of the New York State budget in 18 months. He said he wants to make the case directly to the people of New York why he’s had to make the difficult decisions that he’s made. “I think the people of the state of New York are the ones who should choose their governor,” he said.
NY Governor David Paterson
|
What do you think about this article?
More in Politics & Society
Latest Articles