Expect New York Gov. David Paterson to scramble to gain some much-needed political capital in his State of the State speech, which he will give today at 1 p.m.
“We’re in a moment of high drama in this state,” said David Birdsell at Baruch College. “Our finances are in their most perilous state in the past 30 years, we have a deeply divided and dysfunctional Legislature and a governor who is unable to get legislation passed. How will he rally the troops?”
Paterson, who is seeking re-election this year against miserable approval ratings, unveiled sweeping campaign finance and ethics reforms yesterday. But lofty ideas are easy to come by.
“The public believes he’s trying to do the right thing, but we’re not sure if he can carry it out,” said Gerald Benjamin, a professor at SUNY New Paltz.
Paterson will be trying to rally voters to his side facing an expected challenge by state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo who has already raised $16 million.
