Obama reportedly asks Paterson not to run

ALBANY, N.Y., Sept. 20 (UPI) -- President Obama has asked New York Gov. David Paterson to drop his candidacy in next year's election, sources tell The New York Times.

The newspaper cited administration officials and a Democratic operative who said the request was made through U.S. Rep. Gregory Meeks, a Democrat who represents New York City.

Paterson, who was lieutenant governor when Gov. Eliot Spitzer resigned amid a prostitution scandal, is New York's first black governor and one of two in the United States.

The officials said Democratic leaders, including the president, are worried that Paterson, unpopular with New York voters, might hurt Democrats running for Congress and the state legislature if he heads the ticket. They fear that if former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani heads the Republican ticket that might energize the GOP.