Paterson gets set to kick off election bid

In launching his election campaign Saturday at Hofstra University, David A. Paterson is expected to emphasize how he overcame blindness as a youth and how he kept New York solvent as governor.

Paterson, who became the state's chief executive in March 2008 after the resignation of Eliot Spitzer, faces unrest from fellow Democrats who want Attorney General Andrew Cuomo to run for governor. The campaign kickoff signals that Cuomo will have to fight for the party's gubernatorial nomination.

Paterson aides said Friday he chose Hofstra for the campaign launch because it's near the nursery school and elementary and high schools he attended in Hempstead. He also graduated from the university's law school.

Paterson will make campaign announcements in Rochester Saturday afternoon and in Buffalo Sunday morning.

"This is very much a local event - the governor is coming home," said campaign manager Richard Fife. "He will talk about how it was in Hempstead that he learned to believe in himself and to never give up."

Paterson was born in Brooklyn, but his parents moved to Hempstead after New York City school officials wanted to put him in special education or classes for the blind exclusively. His parents insisted Paterson attend classes with sighted students.

Paterson, who lost most of his vision due to a childhood illness, has credited the Hempstead schools with helping him to be independent and confident. He has spoken of having to overcome loneliness and anxiety, along with physical challenges.

Fife said Paterson would stress his campaign theme of putting the interests of residents ahead of those of powerful unions and other groups. Paterson will tout eliminating $30 billion in deficits and preventing New York from running out of money last December.

Paterson's campaign has rented a "multipurpose room" in the Hofstra Student Center that accommodates about 350 people, according to university spokeswoman Karla Schuster. "This is not a university sponsored event," she said, when asked if Hofstra's top brass would be there.

The room size, Paterson's low poll numbers and many state politicians being on vacation has fueled speculation about turnout. Local Democrats, including Jay Jacobs, Nassau and state Democratic committee chairman, and Hempstead Village Mayor Wayne Hall, have been working to ensure a crowd. Paterson's campaign has reached out to student political groups.

"We're expecting a good crowd," Fife said. "The response has been good."

The Paterson file

Gov. David A. Paterson announces his election bid Saturday morning at Hofstra University. Here are some facts about him:

AGE: 55

HOMETOWN: Raised in Hempstead and Harlem

PARTY AFFILIATION: Democrat

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Served 21 years as a state senator representing Harlem; four years as Senate minority leader; elected lieutenant governor in 2006 on a ticket with Eliot Spitzer; succeeded Spitzer as governor on March 17, 2008

FAMILY: Wife, Michelle Paige Paterson; children, Ashley and Alex; parents, Basil and Portia Paterson

EDUCATION: Bachelor's degree in history from Columbia University and law degree from Hofstra

ACCOMPLISHMENTS: First African-American governor of New York and second blind governor in the United States; completed the New York City Marathon in 1999; preserved endangered African-American burial ground in lower Manhattan during the 1990s

Compiled by James T. Madore

SOURCES: New York State Red Book, Governor's office.