Politics on the Hudson

Gov. Paterson, speaking today to editors and reporters from USA Today, downplayed the effect Barack Obama’s coattails could have on New York senate races in November.

The New York Post reported today that Republicans are feeling more confident about maintaining their slim majority in the Senate because John McCain is running surprising well in New York, only down nine percentage points in recent statewide polls.

But Paterson, former Senate minority leader, said coattails are overblown.

“The only way to beat senators is to beat them in their own districts,” he said. “I think that the Senate can change hands this year because of some very effective candidates that they have. But if Senator Obama wins New York by 5 points or by 20 points, it will not necessarily change the roles in the Senate.”

Paterson discussed a range of local and national issues during his 20-minute “newsmaker” interview at the convention this morning.

You can watch the interview here.

Paterson said that some Hillary Clinton supporters feel disenfranchised because they were hopeful she would have been the first woman president, saying that African American voters would have felt the same way if Obama finished second in the primaries.

“Each group is anxious that they may never see this opportunity come before them in their lifetime,” Paterson said. “I’m more optimistic. I think we have turned the corner thanks to the campaigns of both of these individuals.”

When asked about the state’s congressional races, he admitted he hasn’t spent much time thinking about them as he took over as governor unexpectedly in March. In fact, he slipped up and said Michael Arcuri “who barely lost last time and running again.” Arcuri won.

He also mentioned the chances of Democrats Eric Massa and Jack Davis, even though Davis isn’t the party’s pick this time. He predicted Democrats could win two or three seats.

Paterson said he would also help Obama’s campaign whenever they asked him to.

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