Paterson on Larry King: I’m a victim

ALBANY — Gov. David A. Paterson last night blamed predecessor Eliot Spitzer’s downfall in a prostitution scandal for creating an environment where falsehoods are believed.

Paterson, who succeeded Spitzer nearly two years ago, has spent the week responding to speculation about a New York Times article about allegations of personal misconduct during his tenure. He has denied acting improperly or planning to resign.

Paterson, on CNN’s “Larry King Live” program, called again for the Times to publish its story.

“I think this is a carry-over from that situation,” he said, referring to the prostitution scandal that engulfed his running mate Spitzer. “I think that has actually victimized me.”

Paterson charged that the rumors he’s been subjected to will discourage others from public service.

Yesterday morning, Paterson predicted the Times article would likely focus on his aides, use of campaign money and a public event that was abruptly canceled.

A Times reporter “asked me several questions but they were about campaign expenditures, different staff members I hired, about an event that I missed — about an event at the last minute and he wanted to know why I canceled it,” Paterson told WOR radio yesterday.

Asked yesterday about Paterson’s criticism, Times spokeswoman Diane McNulty said, “We didn’t start the rumors about the governor and we haven’t trafficked in those rumors.”

Questioned yesterday by WOR about whether he knew the source of the disparaging rumors, Paterson said initially: “I don’t want to speculate on why it’s happening because I don’t know who’s doing it.”

But later, he said, “Like any human being that’s being attacked, you have a pretty good idea of who’s doing it.”

He said “people who don’t want me to run for office” were attempting to undermine his campaign. He alleged these individuals oppose his call for cuts in school aid and Medicaid reimbursement. “I’m taking the discussion to a place that nobody wants to hear right now.”

The comments echoed the theme of a campaign e-mail sent to supporters yesterday. The message announced a kickoff event on Feb. 20 in Hempstead and described Paterson as an outsider fighting for the public against “the Albany insiders and special interests.”