Scandals have a similar feel. They start slowly. “It couldn’t be true, that didn’t happen.”
Then they start to grow. “He’s involved too?” And then, they mushroom enveloping whomever is caught down wind. “Who could believe it!”
Now David Paterson is the second consecutive governor caught down wind, and the question now is: Can he survive? More importantly, can he govern effectively?
The only thing mushrooming more than scandal in Albany is the budget deficit. It’s now more than $8.2 billion out of balance, and the governor is key to the talks.
One of the finest hours of Paterson’s crisis-scarred term was the appointment of Richard Ravitch as lieutenant governor, which ultimately had to pass muster in the courts. Ravitch has the experience, the respect and the clout to get things done. And many are now clamoring for him to take over budget negotiations. But Paterson insists he will be at the center of the deal making, and his administration has been accused of keeping Ravitch on the sidelines.
So what’s next? Paterson has lost two top officials in his administration already this week. And things show no signs of quieting. He could possibly try to tough it out, but it’s not clear right now if he will be able to.
Then there’s the question of Attorney General Andrew Cuomo. His investigation into Paterson is moving at lightning-fast pace. It’s likely he won’t declare his own candidacy for governor until the investigation is wrapped up. And now that his path to the nomination is clear, it’s still in his best interest to delay entry into the race, to avoid all those messy budget questions.
With the possibility of a second consecutive New York governor being taken by scandal, Cuomo may now face greater scrutiny. And even though Republican Rick Lazio is considered by the Democrats to be longest of the longshots, there is always the Massachusetts lesson. Scott Brown looms over every race in 2010.
But New York Democrats have now gotten their way in two major races, now that Harold Ford could read the polls and the writing on the wall. There will likely be no primary challenges for Andrew Cuomo and Kirsten Gillibrand. And that’s good for the party. But with token Republican opposition, is it good for the state?
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