NY Gov. Paterson drops election bid under pressure
By MICHAEL GORMLEY, Associated Press Writer Michael Gormley, Associated Press Writer – 21 mins ago
NEW YORK – Less than a week after declaring he would seek a full four-year term, New York Gov. David Paterson abruptly dropped his election bid Friday under pressure from Democrats concerned about his faltering agenda and criticism of his handling of a domestic abuse case involving a trusted aide.
At a news conference, Paterson cited an accumulation of distractions that prompted him to end his campaign, but said he had never abused his office. "But I am being realistic about politics," he said. "It hasn't been the latest distraction ... It's been an accumulation of obstacles that have obfuscated me from bringing my message to the public."