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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2009
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15

Prez to Paterson: Get Out of NY Gov Race

Obama fears Dem's unpopularity could hand race to GOP

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(Newser) – President Obama has told New York Gov. David Paterson not to run in next year's gubernatorial election, reports the New York Times. Obama's fear is that the unpopular Democrat could give otherwise listless Republicans incentive to storm the polls, sources say. That would be doubly true if former New York City mayor Rudolph Giuliani runs, they warn.

Voters gave Paterson—the former lieutenant governor who replaced Gov. Eliot Spitzer after his prostitution scandal—a mere 30% approval rating recently. The numbers are so bad they could even hurt support for the state's congressional Democrats. The first black president telling one of the nation's two black governors to back off clears racial landmines for potential candidate Andrew Cuomo. Paterson was reportedly "resistant" to Obama's advice.

Then-presidential candidate Barack Obama helps New York Gov. David Paterson to his seat before a meeting of Democratic governors last year.
Then-presidential candidate Barack Obama helps New York Gov. David Paterson to his seat before a meeting of Democratic governors last year.   (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)
Gov. David Paterson.
Gov. David Paterson.   (AP Photo/Mike Groll, File)
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The message the White House wanted to send—that it wants Paterson to step aside—was delivered. He is resistant. - Anonymous Democratic operative

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15 comments
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chas_m
Sep 20, 09 5:19 AM CDT
I find it amusing that Patterson is deeply hated in NY, but he's STILL more popular than Bush. Reply
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+5
IN RESPONSE:
dontlikeyou
Sep 20, 09 9:12 AM CDT
Patterson said his enemies were racist. Is he also going to call Obama racist for telling him to get out of the race? Or is the term racist only reserved for conservatives who disagree with liberals?
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+1
IN RESPONSE:
QueenAlli
Sep 20, 09 9:20 AM CDT
@dontlikeyou: STFUP! you're an idiot. @chas_m: Paterson isn't hated, he's not respected. He hasn't earned it.
Vote up! Vote down!
-2
IN RESPONSE:
Fondue
Sep 20, 09 9:36 AM CDT
@dontlike, you are clearly oblivious to nuance. Question: what is the possible meaning of "was"?
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-2
IN RESPONSE:
prowlerzee
Sep 20, 09 11:36 PM CDT
I find it amusing that by his own standards Zerobama is a racist! hahahahahaha! This is nothing new for the Corporate Tool. Even before he was da boss he took over like a mafia don. Twice during the primaries he interfered in other elections, telling two AA progressive dems to take a hike. He favored the white male establishment Dems over their AA female progressive Dem challengers. Just more FACTS that the Obot Hopium addicts can negative rate to prove what dupes they were.
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