Paterson drops out of New York governor race

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His announcement comes in the wake of a scandal involving a top aide, but Paterson acknowledged that 'it hasn't been the latest distraction, it's been an accumulation of obstacles.'

Reporting from Los Angeles and New York - David Paterson, who became governor of New York when his predecessor was forced to resign in disgrace, announced on Friday that he will not seek election this year, driven from office by a scandal involving a top aide.

Paterson, whose almost two years in office were a whirlwind of crisis, said he will stay in office until his term legally ends, but he won't seek election to the office. He also defended his tenure in a televised news conference and pledged to continue working on the state's problems.

"Up until the last few days, I was looking forward to participating in that work in a full four-year term," Paterson said. "But I am being realistic about politics. It hasn't been the latest distraction, it's been an accumulation of obstacles that have obfuscated me from bringing my message to the public.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-na-paterson-quit27-2010feb27,0,432450.story