1.  Defying Obama (and the Odds), Paterson Will Seek Re-election

President Obama and New York Gov. David Paterson had their first awkward encounter today at the Albany International Airport only a day after the president asked Paterson not to run for office again in 2010. Last week, Paterson's approval rating dropped to 20 percent (far lower than that of his predecessor, Eliot Spitzer), placing him among the least popular governors in the country. Obama's comments came amid concerns about Democratic prospects in the 2010 elections and particularly in New York, where a June Senate coup left the Democratic state legislature in disarray. During an appearance in Manhattan's Harlem shortly after Obama's remarks, Paterson told that crowd, "I have said time and time again that I am running for governor next year." He later confirmed this at a parade: "I am running for office." Obama's request marks one of his first interventions into state politics, and is especially unusual as Paterson is one of the country's two black governors. During a speech today, Obama referred to Paterson as "a wonderful man." The move has set the stage for Attorney General Andrew Cuomo—who Obama described as "your shy and retiring attorney general" during a speech today—to begin campaigning for Paterson's seat.

Read original story in Reuters | Monday, Sept. 21, 2009