(CNN) –New York Gov. David Paterson is calling on potential challengers to lay their cards on the table.
"I keep hearing about all these people who are running for office," said Paterson during an appearance on CNBC's "Squawk Box" Monday morning. "If you had any courage, if you wanted to become a leader in a crisis, get up and say what you'd do now."
When Paterson was asked if he had anyone in mind, such as New York State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo or former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, the governor said said he wasn't talking about anybody in particular.
"When all these phantom people who say they're running for governor get into this race, they are going to have to same questions I've been answering for 18 months," added Paterson. "If they wanted to show that they were different and exciting and would make Albany a different place, why don't they answer those questions now."
Polls of New York State voters suggest that Andrew Cuomo, the son of former New York Gov. Mario Cuomo, leads Paterson by a greater than 2 to 1 margin in a hypothetical 2010 Democratic primary matchup. Publicly, Cuomo has said he's running for re-election next year as attorney general.
Surveys also indicate that Giuliani, who ran for the 2008 Republican presidential nomination, leads Paterson by double digits in a hypothetical general election matchup. Giuliani has said he'll decide on a gubernatorial bid later this year.
Paterson, who was lieutenant governor when a scandal led to then-Gov. Eliot Spitzer's departure from the office in March 2008, has said he's running next year for a full term as governor next year.
Last month, the New York Times reported that the White House was urging Paterson to withdraw. The White House has neither confirmed nor denied the story. But sources told CNN that White House Political Director Patrick Gaspard met early last month with Paterson, one of only two African-American governors, to let him know about the administration's concerns he could not win the governor's race next year - a problem that could affect races down-ticket.
–CNN Deputy Political Director Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report
From CNN Politics
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Go David Patterson!
Gov. Paterson, please do not run. We in the state of NY didn't even know who you were till Spitzer got silly. You've threatened to tax soda, water and anything else you can get your hands on. We have some of the highest taxes in the country but you want more. We in upstate NY are tired of carrying downstate. As a Democrat I ask you to think of the state, all of the state. Your numbers speak for themselves, you can't win.
Mr. Patterson, at this point in time I honestly don't know who to cast my vote for but I must wholeheartedly commend you for making this statement. There is a problem of people spewing negativity who offer no suggestion or solution. Someone sent me a YouTube clip of the Tea Party affair. When participants bearing negative placards were asked why they were protesting, the answers were either nonsensical, lacked substance, or exposed utter ignorance.
I'm not voting for Paterson for one reason only – he's a hypocrite. He keeps talking about our huge deficit and how we have to cut costs, but he gave his legislative staff HUGE raises, especially his personal assistant. When he cuts their salary and benefits like he wants to do with other public employees, maybe I'll reconsider, but I doubt it.
"If you had any courage, if you wanted to become a leader in a crisis, get up and say what you'd do now," Paterson said.
OK, here's what I'd so... call it the "JFK plan."
I'd cut taxes and encourage businesses and workers to STAY in your state and further encourage other businesses and workers to RELOCATE TO your state. It's called "positive incentive."
This isn't rocket science kids, and it's certainly not politics either. If it was good enough for a Democrat like JFK and it WORKED, then maybe we could try it again. Unless of course, you thought the economic prosperity and innovation of 1984-2007 was a fluke...
What arrogance! And what, exactly, has Paterson done to warrent such an attitude? NOTHING!
David Patterson will go down as one of the worst governors in the history of New York. But he can always blame Rockefeller for the state of New York's finances.
"If you had any courage, if you wanted to become a leader in a crisis, get up and say what you'd do now."
Enforce our Immigration Laws, Get off foreign energy dependency, Downsize Government, Create Tax Incentives to promote economic growth within the US, repeal the Stimulus Bill, dump the Democratic healthcare entitlement plan, Move to a FAIR Tax system, and clean out the corruption within our Government!
That would be a good start at home!
I think its excellent idea. Everyone likes to complain. If one of his opponents has an idea to resolve something critical in the state, why don't they suggest it? If it is a good idea and solves the problem, it will probably propel that person to win the election. Same thing with Congress and the office of the President – everyone's got ideas, but when they get to office, same ole crap.
lol Sounds like the Gov. has his amunition ready....remember he was the behind guy filling the chamber...he knows all the tricks of politics.
Irony, he does have some ump on this though....if there really are serious candidates it would serve them well to start getting 'their ideas' out now. I suspect every state is going to face a really unexpected change in governement this year...voters are that peeved.
GOOD POINT . . . BUT . . . .
New York Governor David Paterson makes a good point but he should NOT be the one stating that. When Paterson makes that statement, he appears desperate; as though he is boxing shadows and hoping to hit someone or something.