Top New York Democrats were silent Tuesday as Gov. David Paterson, already fighting to remain politically viable, fought to lay to rest unconfirmed rumors and news reports of womanizing and drug use.Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, many Democrats' preferred candidate for governor in 2010, refused to comment Tuesday on the unsubstantiated tales, all of which Paterson denies. Cuomo's office also won't comment on whether he supports Paterson in his battle.
"We don't comment on rumors," a Cuomo spokesman said. "There are serious problems facing our state and the attorney general is busy doing the job he was elected to do."
Many Democrats have voiced wishes that Cuomo run for governor instead of Paterson, who took the post upon the resignation of Eliot Spitzer, named in a prostitution investigation 23 months ago.
A Republican candidate for governor came to Paterson's side.
"The Capitol is paralyzed by rumor and innuendo, and somehow we need to get past that and focus on the basic problems that people care about," Rick Lazio said. "I don't think anyone trying to get their job done deserves this kind of phantom threat."
Paterson has cited as fabricated a Jan. 30 New York Post report that he was caught by state police in the mansion with a woman other than his wife. The Post has said it stands by its story.
Paterson decried those allegations and other statehouse rumors Monday in an Associated Press interview. Paterson, trailing Cuomo in the polls and in fundraising, would face a tougher campaign against Lazio, which could threaten the whole Democratic ticket.
Democratic leaders wouldn't comment on Paterson or the rumors that have undermined him as he confronts the Legislature over the state budget, an ethics bill he vetoed and the awarding of a contract for video slot machines at Aqueduct race track.