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Governor David Paterson met privately with key Democratic leaders
about his re-election plans as questions swirl around the state
capitol about a variety of unproven accusations involving the
Democratic governor’s personal conduct.
Paterson campaign spokesman Richard
Fife said the weekend calls had nothing to do with the accusations
but were “routine re-election campaign calls.”
“The governor started making calls two
weeks ago to step up his campaign effort and get ready to officially
announce his re-election campaign,” Fife said. “The calls were – and
are – going well, and then look what happens – a coordinated effort
to stop him and spread rumors.”
A Democrat close to the situation,
though, said the meetings included discussions about whether
Paterson would resign or announce he will not run. The Democrat
spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the
issue.
One recent New York Post article about
the accusations drew a denial by Paterson’s spokeswoman and a strong
rebuke by the superintendent of state police.
“Perpetrating lies about the governor,
his family and troopers who diligently perform their duties is a
disservice to the citizens of New York,” said state police
Superintendent Harry J. Corbitt, a career trooper appointed to the
top post by Paterson.
A spokesman for the governor sharply
criticized the crescendo of questions, rumors and accusations.
“This is a new low even by the
standards of Planet Albany,” said Paterson spokesman Peter Kauffmann
late Sunday. “The circus of the past week entirely fabricated out of
thin air and innuendo is an embarrassment for all who have played a
role in fueling it.”
“I’ve never seen the rumor of a story
becoming the story as this one has,” said Doug Muzzio, politics
professor at New York City’s Baruch College.
Paterson became governor 23 months ago
when Eliot Spitzer resigned amid a prostitution scandal. Paterson
had been forced to confront allegations of sexual affairs and drug
use since the day he rose to office on March 17, 2008. He held an
extraordinary news conference detailing past affairs that he and his
wife were involved in during an 18-month period when it appeared
their marriage would end. He also recounted drug use from his youth.
He said he made the admissions so he
couldn’t be compromised as governor and to avoid further fracturing
a government rocked by Spitzer’s resignation.
Paterson already had plenty of
conflict among his fellow Democrats. A week ago he vetoed an ethics
bill adopted by the Democrat-controlled Legislature that was widely
seen as essential this election year. Paterson says he wants a
tougher bill.
He also has refused to abandon his
campaign for a full term, even as the far more popular and
better-funded Andrew Cuomo, the attorney general, waits in the
wings.
-The
Associated Press, 2-8-10
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