Governor Patterson to still seek re-election in 2010

President Barack Obama recently asked New York State Governor David Paterson not to seek re-election. Gov. Paterson himself stated he will be seeking re-election in 2010 despite Pres. Obama's request.

According to Newsday, "The governor didn't deny receiving the message, only saying, ‘I am not going to discuss confidential conversations'."

Many democrats feel as though Gov. Paterson lacks the ability to be in office let alone be elected to the position again. His popularity and approval ratings have declined since he took over as governor in March 2008.

According to The New York Times, "Mr. Obama's political team and other party leaders have grown increasingly worried that the governor's unpopularity could drag down the Democratic members of Congress in New York, as well as the Democratic-controlled Legislature, in next fall's election."

Gov. Paterson, who became governor of New York after former Governor Eliot Spitzer, resigned due to personal reasons, has also made  enemies in Washington D.C. among those in his own party.

While trying to replace Hillary Clinton's, after Clinton became Secretary of State, Senate seat Caroline Kennedy became the front runner to be her replacement. Then to much surprise, Kennedy decided not to run  due to personal reasons. People have speculated that it was Gov. Paterson who did not want her to get into the Senate.

After Kennedy decided not to run for the Senate seat, Gov. Paterson chose Kirsten E. Gillibrand. It came as a surprise to most people who had never even heard of her before the announcement was made that she was the new senator. The announcement did not come without controversy.

According to The New York Times, "In the end, Mr. Paterson selected Ms. Gillibrand anyway, infuriating White House officials and Democratic leaders in Washington.

‘"Making matters worse, the governor also publicly snubbed Caroline Kennedy, a close personal friend and ally of Mr. Obama's, who announced in December her wish to be chosen as Mrs. Clinton's replacement, but then withdrew her name from consideration in January, citing personal reasons."

Some people are questioning why-Obama, the first black president, would not want Governor Paterson, the first black governor of New York, to not run for governor again. It all comes back to what will help the Obama administration in the long run.

According to The New York Post, "That's because Obama, unlike Gov. Paterson, was elected to his job, and thus is sensitive to the implications of a chief executive having no prospect of being elected to his, especially in a key Democratic state."

Many names have been mentioned as to who could possibly run against Gov. Paterson and replace him. One name mentioned as a possible candidate is current New York State Attorney General Andrew Como.

When asked on Sept. 30 by The New York Times if he planned on running for governor in 2010, Cuomo stated, "My plan is to run for re-election as attorney general next year. That's what I'm planning on, that's what I'm focusing on."

Former NYC Mayor Rudolph Giuliani has been rumored to be running for NY governor in 2010 as well, causing the Obama administration to make their move now on getting a well-liked democrat in the running so they can win and so the democrats will still be in control.

Whoever runs in the 2010 race for NY Governor one thing is for certain as of now, Gov. Paterson will be one of them.