Paterson: "I Don't Know" If White House Told Me To Drop Campaign (VIDEO)

New York Governor David Paterson said on Sunday that he didn't know whether or not the White House told him not to run for re-election, before ultimately admitting that they had conveyed "concerns."

In an uncomfortable interview on "Meet the Press," the embattled Democratic Governor ducked and dodged a barrage of questions over a report that the Obama administration had pushed for him to step aside in 2010.

"I'm blind, but I'm not oblivious," said Paterson. "I realize that there are people who don't want me to run."

"All right," said host David Gregory, "but let's be very clear here about what happened. The president's team -- and others speaking on their behalf -- said to you, 'You should not run.' Isn't that right?"

"I can't say that, David," Paterson responded. "There are people who have told me not to run. There are a lot of people who told -- have told me not to run."

Gregory pushed: "But the White House specifically said, 'Don't run.'"

"I don't know that," Paterson replied.

Pressed again and again by Gregory as to what, exactly, was said to him by the president's men, Paterson eventually conceded that "they certainly sent the message that they have concerns."

"And I appreciate that," he added, "but let me just tell you at the outset, I am running for governor in 2010, I don't think that this is an issue other than for the people of the state of New York to decide."

"I don't think I'm a drag on my party," said the governor, whose poll numbers and standing in the state suggest that it would take something of a political miracle for him to win re-election in 2010.

"I'm running for governor of the state of New York," he declared defiantly.

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Comments

[GoDogGo]

12:23 AM on 09/29/2009

I was a supporter of him but the conflict with the White House eliminated my vote completely. He (and others) need to recognize that most of see Obama as being of "strategic" importance, whereas individual congressperson and governors are expendable if need be.

Given the unity of the GOP historically, I truly believe it's important that Dem candidates like Paterson who don't understand this need to get the boot.

[econ1]

07:38 PM on 09/28/2009

He seems like a perfect Governor for NYS.

[unite4change]

05:42 PM on 09/28/2009

Just like our MSM, most Americans are mind readers now. The Governor said he did not get the word from the White House and now everyone says he's not telling the truth. This story came directly from an anonymous source according to our MSM so who do you believe? The media or the governor?

[Carsy]

06:52 PM on 09/28/2009

Who can you to believe, someone at CNN listens to a scanner and thinks World War III has started.

[HomerJFong]

03:49 PM on 09/28/2009

Seemed to me that even after Paterson stated (pretty plainly) that we was not asked not to run, Gregory kept trying to re-ask the question several different ways using '...to be clear...', as if he was suddenly going to say 'Oh, ask ME not to run...'.

[Hank10303]

03:28 PM on 09/28/2009

SEE AMERICAN WHY NEW YORKERS WOULD NEVER ELECT THIS MAN TO OFFICE.

[Socrmom]

01:27 PM on 09/28/2009

Sounds like this guy need to get a clue. He says there are "a lot of people" who have told him not to run. Maybe he should listen.

[Oonagh]

10:19 PM on 09/28/2009

This man is clueless.. not because he is blind, he does not have the talent to be the Governor of NY. and his ratings prove it..

[myjoyy]

01:26 PM on 09/28/2009

Paterson can't say that the President told him not to run, but he told the President to butt out. Speaking out before you know all the facts is not a good bullet point for his resume.

[ImissBush]

12:23 PM on 09/28/2009

hes been a terrible gov

[nippyfan]

12:05 PM on 09/28/2009

He is annoying and wish washy.

[Char59]

11:47 AM on 09/28/2009

The media came to the conclusion that the White House told him that, Patterson does not even know if that is true, so why is the media reporting such crap?

[factotem]

11:54 AM on 09/28/2009

You know something is true, or you know it is not.
Patterson flubbed his answer. I hope you're under 15 if you couldn't figure that out..

[bigsioux]

11:07 AM on 09/28/2009

The reason I am so unpopular, explains Paterson, is because I'm making all these tough decisions for the people of NY blah, blah, blah. Yeah, right.

[Hank10303]

03:30 PM on 09/28/2009

Governor Cumo use to make tough decisions and we loved him and appreciated his leadership.

[JFaye]

10:43 AM on 09/28/2009

This "interview" was absolutely funny; a SNL skit in the making ... and they don't have to change one single word.

[SizeMatters]

12:42 PM on 09/28/2009

agreed, but you don't see many skits about dems on SNL

[Socrmom]

01:25 PM on 09/28/2009

There have been plenty of Hilary skits.

[gpeach36]

01:31 PM on 09/28/2009

Isn't he a Democrat?

[jtmoney]

10:36 AM on 09/28/2009

patterson went on to say "do you know who else told me not to run? the people of NEW JERSEY!!!"

[gettingitright]

10:36 AM on 09/28/2009

This is one of these stories being promoted by the media through speculation and rumor. If the first black POTUS does not support the first black NY governor, that is news they can use and exploit to get viewers and writers who would find an Obama vs. Patterson dispute amusing and gratifying. If Obama was not supporting Ohio governor Ted Strickland, no one would care. This is an example of the media creating its own news.

[waverly]

12:04 PM on 09/28/2009

As POTUS, Obama is the leader of the DNC and the DNC is responsible for getting as many democrats elected to office as possible. There is concern about a loss in the NY governor's race if Patterson runs. Also remember that Patterson is not an elected governor, he was appointed when Spitzer stepped down. There is a big difference between an elected office and an appointed official.

My understanding was Obama spoke to another democratic in NY to discuss the issue and the other inadvertently passed it on to Patterson.

[ohiodem250]

05:04 PM on 09/28/2009

Obama is not leader of the DNC, Tim Kaine is. And Tim Kaine is responsible for electing as many Democrats as possible.

[gettingitright]

10:17 PM on 09/28/2009

It really doesn't matter whether Obama is the de facto leader or not. The point is they are marketing this story to make Obama look like a meddler. More importantly, a meddler who does not support other historic black candidates. Sure, dems want to retain control over NY, but that part , if you look at how the media reports it, is secondary to Obama's involvement.

[reno1190]

08:33 AM on 09/28/2009

please spitzer run against trooly gooliani one loves prostitutes the other plays dress-up marries his cousin ,brings girlfriend home to wife #2 goes to court request to have girlfriend permission to visit home while wife still lives their court refuse trooly goes live with gay couple runs for prez after playing dress-up and bingo hes against gays to apease his right wacos well this will be the best soap opera in the history of the state of ny.bring it on.

[reno1190]

08:35 AM on 09/28/2009

HELLO NYC FIRE FIGHTERS