Hillarysworld

In a stunning request, the Obama administration has made it clear to poll-challenged Gov. Paterson that the White House would prefer he not seek election to a full four-year term next year.

The Obama administration sent the message through White House political affairs director Patrick Gaspard, who met with the governor at his campaign headquarters for nearly two hours last Monday, according to a source with knowledge of the conversation.

"They expressed concern about his chances about being reelected and the likelihood his presence in the race made it more likely that Rudy Giuliani would enter the contest," the source said. "The preference is that he not run. That message was conveyed directly."

The bombshell meeting between Paterson and Gaspard occurred the same day President Obama was in New York City to deliver a Wall Street address - a speech Paterson was not invited to, according to several sources.

The White House's preference he not run was reiterated to Paterson during a Friday evening dinner with Rep. Greg Meeks, a Queens Democrat.

Paterson, according to the first source, raised his Monday conversation with Gaspard during the dinner, which also included a couple of state senators.

Meeks, the source said, told Paterson that he had spoken in Washington, D.C., with Obama chief of staff Rahm Emanuel, who he said doesn't think a Paterson run is "tenable."

The message to Paterson not only represents the White House trying to heavily influence a top state race, but also is a case of the first black president pressuring New York's first black governor to step aside.

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2009/09/19/2009-09-19_obama_administration_.html#ixzz0ReF9GPRp