Paterson to Detractors: I'm Running

Gov. David Paterson isn't scrapping his plans to run for the office he inherited 18 months ago, despite growing pressure from Washington and intervention by the Rev. Al Sharpton, who has contacted the governor and the White House over his concern. "My plans for 2010 are to run for governor of the state of New York," Paterson said today. "I am running for office."

Paterson's remarks come amid mounting pressure from Washington and New York to drop out because of his low poll numbers and concerns from other Democrats that he might hurt their chances in 2010. That would pave the way for the far more popular Andrew Cuomo. "I think the White House is very concerned about 2010," says a pollster, who last week found Paterson mired in some of the lowest approval ratings of any New York governor.  (More David Paterson stories.)