Politics on the Hudson

In defending his decision to pick Kirsten Gillibrand for Senate, Governor Paterson said that Attorney General Andrew Cuomo “never asked” to be considered for the position because Paterson told him he didn’t want another vacant statewide seat.

“I told the attorney general I had a real reservation with the continuing nature of vacant positions in state government,” Cuomo said. “Had the attorney general, who was as qualified as anyone, who I looked at, become senator, we would now have no statewide official who was elected. And one of the two senators would not be elected.”

Paterson had never indicated publicly that Cuomo was not under consideration, and members of the state Assembly indicated that Paterson’s aides had been asking them who they might appoint if Cuomo was picked for Senate.

Moreover, some officials have said that Paterson’s consternation with Cuomo was not that there woud be an open seat, but that he was uneasy with whom the Assembly would pick to run on the ticket with him in 2010.

Still, Paterson said that “I asked him to please remain available because if I could not find someone of the caliber I was looking for, I knew he was and I would come right back to him.”

And Paterson also endorsed Cuomo for the job in the future—or perhaps as governor one day. Of course, Paterson probably hopes the governor part comes well after he seeks election in 2010.

“I thank him not only for his friendship, but would say here today that I hope Andrew Cuomo serves the state as senator and as governor, which ever one he would pick in the future. I think he’s that great an elected official.”

Updated: By the way, Cuomo wasn’t at the announcement. Gillibrand worked for Cuomo when he ran the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development.

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