Poll: New Yorkers don't want Paterson to quit

Albany, New York - March 4, 2010
WCAX.COM Local Vermont News
A new poll shows a majority of New Yorkers don't want Gov. David Paterson to quit despite allegations he helped cover up a domestic abuse case and violated ethics rules.
It's alleged that either Paterson or members of his staff persuaded a woman to drop a domestic violence complaint against a top aide. Paterson denies the charges.
Several members of Paterson's administration have quit, including two of New York's top cops. Paterson is also accused of ethics violations for using his power to obtain free World Series tickets, and state reports show he may have lied under oath about the incident.
Despite the allegations, Paterson still has support from both men and women. The Quinnipiac University poll found that 61 percent of voters don't want him to resign, 31 percent do.
And 61 percent of voters prefer an investigation by an independent prosecutor rather than Attorney General Andrew Cuomo. Twenty-five percent want Cuomo to lead the investigation.
The Democrat was set to challenge Paterson in a primary before Paterson dropped his bid for re-election. Paterson himself has not called for Cuomo to remove himself from the case.
"I at all times upheld the oath of my office and never at any point attempted to influence or coerce anything they didn't want to do," said Paterson, D-New York. "I think it is best I stay in office. In terms of distractions, that is part of public service, that there is going to be distractions. These are difficult times, but I'm going to be tough too!"
"At the end of the day, if the allegations of the abuse of power are true, then the governor will be unable to govern and he will have to step down," said Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-New York.
National Democratic Party Chairman Tim Kaine is the latest party member to withdraw support for the embattled governor. But Kaine stopped short of calling for Paterson's resignation.