By Selwyn Duke

Damaged by scandal like his predecessor, New York’s Governor David
Paterson has announced that he is withdrawing his bid to win election
this November.

The governor had been steadfast in his determination to capture a
full term at the ballot box, despite low poll numbers and growing
opposition within his own party. Yet allegations of impropriety in the
handling of a criminal case involving an aide proved the last nail in
his political coffin. Providing a brief outline of the allegations,
Reuters Ellen Wulfhorst wrote
of reports stating, “he [Paterson] and state police spoke with a woman
who last fall accused a top governor's aide of assault. After speaking
with the governor, the woman failed to appear in court and her case was
dismissed, said the New York Times, which first reported the story. The case raised questions of possible inappropriate intervention by the governor . . . .”

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