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Paterson says it's a ``possibility'' he'll run in 2010

BY JAMES T. MADORE | james.madore@newsday.com

March 14, 2008

ALBANY - Though he won't be governor until 1 p.m. Monday, David Paterson isn't ruling out a run in his own right in 2010 after finishing out Eliot Spitzer's unexpired term.

"Yes, I think there is a possibility I could run," Paterson said Friday, responding to reporters' questions. "I guess I'll try it out awhile and get back to you."

One potential rival for the Executive Mansion, Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, dismissed speculation about his gubernatorial aspirations. In 2002, Cuomo challenged the bid of H. Carl McCall, only to withdraw days before the primary vote.

"I want David Paterson to be the best governor this state can have," Cuomo said Friday after a brief meeting with the governor-designee. "I want to do everything I can to make that possible. That's what I'm focused on. ... When the governor succeeds we all succeed."

Cuomo was one of five state leaders to huddle privately with Paterson in the Capitol in a series of back-to-back meetings over 4½ hours. Topping the agenda was the need to negotiate a budget for 2008-09 by the April 1 deadline and the impact of the national recession.

"I wanted to convey the message to them that we don't have a second to waste," Paterson said. "We've got to get this budget done ... but the sides are very far apart. They have completely different ideas as to how to solve the problem," he added, referring to next year's projected budget gap of $4.8 billion.

Paterson also reaffirmed his support of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's presidential bid, saying he had been approached recently by a mutual friend of Illinois Sen. Barack Obama about changing allegiances. Prior to Spitzer's resignation, Paterson had been seen as the likely successor to Clinton if she captured the White House.

"That was not the reason I endorsed Senator Clinton," Paterson said. "I told Senator Clinton if she ever ran for president -- I told her this in 2003 -- that I would be with her."

Earlier this year, Paterson stumped for Clinton in Iowa, South Carolina and elsewhere. And he has remained loyal to the state's junior senator.

While Paterson chatted with leaders in the opulent office of lieutenant governor -- a post he had held for 14½ months -- Spitzer remained at his Manhattan apartment addressing fallout from the sex scandal that destroyed his once-promising political career.

Republicans often criticized Spitzer as viewing Long Islanders as universally rich. And Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli of Great Neck speculated that Paterson may have the best grasp of Island issues than any governor since Hugh Carey, who had a house on Shelter Island.

"I think David understands Long Island," DiNapoli said, noting Paterson went to school in Hempstead. "And he's been around long enough to know that school funding, property taxes and quality health care are big issues for Long Islanders."