Reports: Paterson urged to drop out of governor's race

New York Gov. David Paterson, appointed in the wake of the Eliot Spitzer sex scandal, is reportedly being urged to drop out the 2010 race.

But by whom? The New York Times reports that it's President Barack Obama himself who is calling out Paterson on his perceived political weakness, but the Associated Press reports this morning that it's National Democratic Party leaders, according to unnamed aides close to Paterson.

According to the AP:

"A message about the race was delivered from top national Democrats at a dinner Friday night with Paterson, but it was unclear whether it was at the direction of Obama, one of the advisers said. The Democratic leaders spoke of a concern referred to as the 'David Paterson problem,' the adviser said.

The request has been in the works for a couple weeks, and the intention was to wait until after the state's primary to deliver it, the other adviser said."

According to the NYT:

"President Obama has sent a request to Gov. David A. Paterson that he withdraw from the New York governor’s race, fearing that Mr. Paterson cannot recover from his dismal political standing, according to two senior administration officials and a New York Democratic operative with direct knowledge of the situation

The decision to ask Mr. Paterson to step aside was proposed by political advisers to Mr. Obama, but approved by the president himself, one of the administration officials said.

...The president’s request was conveyed to the Mr. Paterson by Representative Gregory W. Meeks, a Queens Democrat, who has developed a strong relationship with the Obama administration, they said."

A Marist poll released last week showed Paterson with a 20 percent approval rating, down slightly from his June rating of 21 percent.

In recent weeks, the White House has also distanced itself from suggestions that Obama and other African-American politicians were being targeted because of race.