David Paterson Will Not Run for Reelection

Beleaguered New York Governor David Paterson is expected to announce today he will not run for reelection. Press conference planned for an 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM time frame.

 David Paterson

The New York Post confirms Paterson will not run. Politico cites Democrats calling for Paterson to drop his re-election bid, including President Barack Obama.

New York's black Democrats had been reluctant to publicly voice their private skepticism of New York's first black governor, but Perkins said the "disturbing" report that the governor had interfered in an aide's domestic violence case forced his hand, and that he would call Paterson to tell him today.

Michael Steele, Chairman of the RNC, made the following comment last September about Obama's involvement:

I found that to be stunning, that the White House would send word to one of only two black governors in the country not to run for re-election,” Mr. Steele said on CBS’s Face the Nation Sunday. He also questioned why the White House had not exerted similar pressure on Jon Corzine, the Democratic governor of New Jersey, who has also suffered from very low approval ratings.

Paterson's scandals got hotter as one of his close aides, David W. Johnson, was suspended without pay, finally, this week on accusations of a violent domestic assault on his live-in girlfriend on Halloween night.

At every turn, the woman involved met a brick wall. She could not get protective orders served on Johnson. In the end, she talked to Governor Paterson by phone (unclear who made the to whom) and the next day, she failed to show up in court and her case was dismissed.

Attorney Andrew Cuomo, at Paterson's request, began an investigation into State Police and the Governor's office. Yesterday, Denise O'Donnell, a Paterson Cabinet official charged with overseeing the Police, stepped down.

Just yesterday Paterson was indicating he will run, but Rep. Steve Israel (D-NY), a close friend of Paterson's asked Paterson to step out of the race. "Sometimes, friends have to speak unpleasant truths."

David Paterson's scandal monitor seemed to perk-up daily, after stepping into office to replace disgraced New York Governor Eliot Spitzer. Polls are showing that Attorney General Andrew Cuomo is the leading Democrat for the 2010 race. In 2008, a New York Daily News headline said Gov. Paterson admits to sex with other women for years. That wasn't the whole story. Paterson said both he an his wife routinely had extramarital affairs.

Related and Background:
David Paterson Aide Accused of Violent Assault - Suspended, No Pay