State_VV0 Democrats_NN2 Fear_VV0 That_CST Paterson_NP1 Is_VBZ Liability_NN1 As_CSA he_PPHS1 prepares_VVZ to_TO run_VVI for_IF re-election_NN1 ,_, Representative_JJ Michael_NP1 E._NP1 McMahon_NP1 ,_, a_AT1 Democrat_NN1 from_II Staten_NP1 Island_NNL1 ,_, is_VBZ burdened_VVN with_IW having_VHG to_TO campaign_VVI in_II a_AT1 district_NN1 where_RRQ Republicans_NN2 have_VH0 a_AT1 strong_JJ presence_NN1 and_CC where_CS the_AT impact_NN1 of_IO job_NN1 losses_NN2 on_II Wall_NP1 Street_NNL1 has_VHZ been_VBN particularly_RR severe_JJ ._. 
Mr._NNB McMahon_NP1 and_CC other_JJ leading_JJ Democrats_NN2 are_VBR concerned_JJ that_CST the_AT election_NN1 prospects_NN2 of_IO the_AT party_NN1 's_GE candidates_NN2 will_VM be_VBI undermined_VVN with_IW Mr._NNB Paterson_NP1 prominently_RR on_II the_AT ticket_NN1 ,_, as_CSA he_PPHS1 is_VBZ hobbled_VVN by_II plunging_VVG job-approval_JJ ratings_NN2 and_CC missteps_VVZ that_CST have_VH0 raised_VVN questions_NN2 about_II whether_CSW he_PPHS1 should_VM even_RR run_VVI next_MD year_NNT1 ._. 
"_" I_PPIS1 'm_VBM cautious_JJ because_CS there_EX is_VBZ uncertainty_NN1 at_II the_AT top_NN1 of_IO the_AT ticket_NN1 ,_, "_" said_VVD Mr._NNB McMahon_NP1 ,_, who_PNQS is_VBZ running_VVG for_IF a_AT1 second_MD term_NN1 ._. 
"_" It_PPH1 's_VBZ inherently_RR a_AT1 difficult_JJ district_NN1 for_IF Democrats_NN2 ._. "_" 
Representative_JJ Dan_NP1 Maffei_NP1 ,_, who_PNQS won_VVD a_AT1 Republican-held_JJ seat_NN1 in_II the_AT Syracuse_NP1 area_NN1 in_II 2008_MC ,_, shares_VVZ Mr._NNB McMahon_NP1 's_GE apprehension_NN1 ._. 
"_" Already_RR we_PPIS2 have_VH0 a_AT1 situation_NN1 that_CST is_VBZ challenging_JJ ,_, "_" he_PPHS1 said_VVD ._. 
"_" We_PPIS2 ca_VM n't_XX afford_VVI to_TO get_VVI stuck_JJ in_II the_AT mire_NN1 of_IO state_NN1 politics_NN1 ._. "_" 
For_RR41 the_RR42 most_RR43 part_RR44 ,_, Mr._NNB Paterson_NP1 's_GE troubles_NN2 have_VH0 played_VVN out_RP as_II a_AT1 statehouse_NN1 drama_NN1 in_II Albany_NP1 ._. 
But_CCB the_AT concerns_NN2 raised_VVN by_II Mr._NNB McMahon_NP1 and_CC Mr._NNB Maffei_NP1 underscore_VV0 the_AT far-reaching_JJ impact_NN1 that_CST Mr._NNB Paterson_NP1 's_GE problems_NN2 are_VBR starting_VVG to_TO have_VHI on_II other_JJ Democrats_NN2 ,_, especially_RR Congressional_JJ candidates_NN2 ,_, from_II New_NP1 York_NP1 City_NN1 to_II the_AT upstate_JJ region_NN1 ._. 
Democratic_JJ Party_NN1 leaders_NN2 in_II Washington_NP1 are_VBR already_RR concerned_JJ about_II the_AT fate_NN1 of_IO at_RR21 least_RR22 a_AT1 half-dozen_NNO members_NN2 of_IO Congress_NN1 who_PNQS must_VM run_VVI in_RP highly_RR competitive_JJ districts_NN2 where_RRQ Republicans_NN2 have_VH0 long_RR enjoyed_VVN a_AT1 strong_JJ presence_NN1 ._. 
Scott_NP1 Levenson_NP1 ,_, a_AT1 Democratic_JJ political_JJ strategist_NN1 who_PNQS supports_VVZ Mr._NNB Paterson_NP1 ,_, said_VVD the_AT fear_NN1 that_CST Democratic_JJ candidates_NN2 have_VH0 about_II Mr._NNB Paterson_NP1 dragging_VVG them_PPHO2 down_RP is_VBZ understandable_JJ ._. 
"_" Any_DD Democrat_NN1 running_VVG in_II 2010_MC has_VHZ to_TO be_VBI concerned_JJ about_II the_AT governor_NN1 's_GE current_JJ poll_NN1 numbers_NN2 ,_, "_" he_PPHS1 said_VVD ._. 
"_" For_IF those_DD2 candidates_NN2 running_VVG in_II competitive_JJ districts_NN2 ,_, to_TO not_XX be_VBI concerned_JJ would_VM violate_VVI their_APPGE own_DA self-interest_NN1 ._. "_" 
For_IF his_APPGE part_NN1 ,_, Mr._NNB Paterson_NP1 has_VHZ remained_VVN steadfast_JJ in_II his_APPGE intention_NN1 to_TO run_VVI next_MD year_NNT1 ._. 
A_AT1 spokeswoman_NN1 responded_VVD testily_RR to_II suggestions_NN2 that_CST he_PPHS1 could_VM hurt_VVI the_AT Democratic_JJ cause_NN1 ._. 
"_" These_DD2 concerted_JJ attempts_NN2 to_TO undermine_VVI the_AT governor_NN1 ,_, in_II the_AT form_NN1 of_IO rumor-mongering_NN1 ,_, potshots_NN2 and_CC freelancing_VVG ,_, do_VD0 not_XX serve_VVI the_AT people_NN of_IO the_AT state_NN1 well_RR and_CC certainly_RR do_VD0 not_XX reflect_VVI well_RR on_II those_DD2 who_PNQS are_VBR participating_VVG in_II it_PPH1 ,_, "_" said_VVD the_AT spokeswoman_NN1 ,_, Tracy_NP1 Sefl_NP1 ._. 
"_" No_AT political_JJ sideshow_NN1 will_VM sway_VVI him_PPHO1 from_II continuing_VVG to_TO make_VVI decisions_NN2 ,_, however_RGQV difficult_JJ ,_, in_II the_AT best_JJT interests_NN2 of_IO the_AT people_NN of_IO New_NP1 York_NP1 ._. "_" 
The_AT biggest_JJT fear_NN1 is_VBZ that_CST Mr._NNB Paterson_NP1 presents_VVZ such_DA an_AT1 enticing_JJ target_NN1 that_CST he_PPHS1 will_VM encourage_VVI a_AT1 challenge_NN1 from_II a_AT1 prominent_JJ Republican_NN1 ,_, like_II former_DA Mayor_NNB Rudolph_NP1 W._NP1 Giuliani_NP1 ,_, who_PNQS could_VM galvanize_VVI the_AT party_NN1 and_CC give_VVI Republican_NN1 voters_NN2 a_AT1 reason_NN1 to_TO be_VBI enthusiastic_JJ about_II the_AT race_NN1 ._. 
Republicans_NN2 ,_, who_PNQS have_VH0 lost_VVN six_MC Congressional_JJ seats_NN2 in_II New_NP1 York_NP1 over_II the_AT last_MD two_MC elections_NN2 ,_, believe_VV0 that_CST their_APPGE chances_NN2 to_TO make_VVI gains_NN2 in_II the_AT state_NN1 's_GE House_NN1 races_NN2 are_VBR greater_JJR with_IW Mr._NNB Paterson_NP1 on_II the_AT ticket_NN1 ._. 
Ken_NP1 Spain_NP1 ,_, a_AT1 senior_JJ strategist_NN1 with_IW the_AT National_JJ Republican_NN1 Congressional_JJ Committee_NN1 ,_, said_VVD Mr._NNB Paterson_NP1 's_GE presence_NN1 on_II the_AT ticket_NN1 would_VM probably_RR intensify_VVI the_AT problems_NN2 that_CST Democrats_NN2 running_VVG next_MD year_NNT1 are_VBR likely_JJ to_TO face_VVI ,_, chief_NN1 among_II them_PPHO2 the_AT anxiety_NN1 among_II voters_NN2 about_II the_AT state_NN1 of_IO the_AT economy_NN1 ._. 
"_" We_PPIS2 believe_VV0 there_EX could_VM potentially_RR be_VBI an_AT1 even_RR greater_JJR opportunity_NN1 in_II swing_NN1 districts_NN2 across_II the_AT state_NN1 ,_, "_" he_PPHS1 said_VVD ._. 
But_CCB Shripal_NP1 Shah_NP1 ,_, a_AT1 spokesman_NN1 for_IF the_AT Democratic_JJ Congressional_JJ Campaign_NN1 Committee_NN1 ,_, said_VVD Democratic_JJ incumbents_NN2 were_VBDR working_VVG to_TO make_VVI their_APPGE campaigns_NN2 as_RG strong_JJ as_CSA possible_JJ regardless_RR of_IO who_PNQS runs_VVZ for_IF governor_NN1 ._. 
"_" Our_APPGE members_NN2 are_VBR focused_VVN on_II serving_VVG their_APPGE constituents_NN2 and_CC representing_VVG their_APPGE districts_NN2 ,_, "_" he_PPHS1 said_VVD ._. 
"_" And_CC we_PPIS2 're_VBR confident_JJ their_APPGE focus_NN1 will_VM lead_VVI to_II successful_JJ re-election_NN1 campaigns_NN2 next_MD year_NNT1 ._. "_" 
Mr._NNB Patterson_NP1 's_GE presence_NN1 on_II the_AT ticket_NN1 could_VM have_VHI ramifications_NN2 beyond_II House_NN1 races_NN2 in_II New_NP1 York_NP1 ._. 
Republican_JJ leaders_NN2 have_VH0 been_VBN trying_VVG to_TO persuade_VVI former_DA Gov_NN1 ._. 
George_NP1 E._NP1 Pataki_NP1 to_TO challenge_VVI Kirsten_NP1 E._NP1 Gillibrand_NP1 for_IF senator_NN1 next_MD year_NNT1 ;_; they_PPHS2 believe_VV0 he_PPHS1 would_VM be_VBI swayed_VVN if_CS the_AT state_NN1 's_GE Democratic_JJ Party_NN1 was_VBDZ weakened_VVN by_II having_VHG Mr._NNB Paterson_NP1 as_CSA its_APPGE leader_NN1 ._. 
"_" Paterson_NP1 at_II the_AT top_NN1 of_IO the_AT ticket_NN1 would_VM open_VVI up_RP opportunities_NN2 for_IF Republicans_NN2 at_II a_AT1 variety_NN1 of_IO levels_NN2 ,_, "_" said_VVD one_MC1 Republican_NN1 strategist_NN1 ,_, who_PNQS spoke_VVD on_II the_AT condition_NN1 that_CST he_PPHS1 not_XX be_VBI identified_VVN because_CS he_PPHS1 was_VBDZ not_XX authorized_VVN to_TO discuss_VVI internal_JJ party_NN1 strategy_NN1 ._. 
"_" That_DD1 is_VBZ sort_RR21 of_RR22 what_DDQ we_PPIS2 are_VBR banking_VVG on_RP ._. "_" 
At_II the_AT same_DA time_NNT1 ,_, the_AT National_JJ Republican_NN1 Senatorial_JJ Committee_NN1 has_VHZ already_RR sought_VVN to_TO exploit_VVI the_AT ties_NN2 between_II Mr._NNB Paterson_NP1 and_CC Ms._NNB Gillibrand_NP1 ,_, the_AT Congresswoman_NN1 he_PPHS1 appointed_VVD to_TO fill_VVI the_AT Senate_NN1 seat_NN1 vacated_VVN by_II Hillary_NP1 Rodham_NP1 Clinton_NP1 ._. 
The_AT committee_NN1 ,_, in_II its_APPGE news_NN1 releases_NN2 and_CC other_JJ campaign_NN1 literature_NN1 ,_, routinely_RR uses_VVZ the_AT tongue-in-cheek_JJ honorific_JJ "_" Paterson-Appointee_NP1 "_" when_CS referring_VVG to_II Ms._NNB Gillibrand_NP1 ._. 
All_DB of_IO this_DD1 helps_VVZ explain_VV0 why_RRQ many_DA2 New_NP1 York_NP1 Democrats_NN2 ,_, including_II a_AT1 growing_JJ number_NN1 of_IO powerful_JJ labor_NN1 leaders_NN2 ,_, are_VBR eager_JJ for_IF Mr._NNB Paterson_NP1 to_TO step_VVI aside_RL and_CC make_VVI way_NN1 for_IF Attorney_NN1 General_NNB Andrew_NP1 M._NN1 Cuomo_NN1 ,_, whose_DDQGE job-approval_JJ rating_NN1 far_RR surpasses_VVZ the_AT governor_NN1 's_GE ._. 
Mr._NNB Paterson_NP1 's_GE dismal_JJ standing_NN1 has_VHZ led_VVN prominent_JJ New_NP1 York_NP1 Democrats_NN2 to_TO informally_RR approach_VVI White_NP1 House_NN1 officials_NN2 behind_II the_AT scenes_NN2 about_II possibly_RR finding_VVG a_AT1 political_JJ appointment_NN1 for_IF the_AT governor_NN1 if_CS his_APPGE poll_NN1 numbers_NN2 do_VD0 not_XX improve_VVI ._. 
"_" At_II this_DD1 point_NN1 ,_, people_NN are_VBR brainstorming_VVG about_II how_RRQ to_TO give_VVI the_AT governor_NN1 a_AT1 dignified_JJ exit_NN1 ,_, "_" said_VVD one_MC1 Democratic_JJ leader_NN1 directly_RR involved_JJ in_II the_AT discussions_NN2 ,_, who_PNQS spoke_VVD on_II condition_NN1 of_IO anonymity_NN1 because_II21 of_II22 the_AT delicate_JJ nature_NN1 of_IO the_AT subject_NN1 ._. 
A_AT1 possible_JJ sign_NN1 that_CST the_AT administration_NN1 is_VBZ taking_VVG a_AT1 serious_JJ interest_NN1 in_II the_AT situation_NN1 is_VBZ that_CST Patrick_NP1 Gaspard_NP1 ,_, President_NNB Obama_NP1 's_GE political_JJ director_NN1 and_CC a_AT1 former_DA prominent_JJ labor_NN1 leader_NN1 in_II New_NP1 York_NP1 ,_, is_VBZ directly_RR monitoring_VVG what_DDQ 's_VBZ happening_VVG in_II the_AT state_NN1 ,_, according_II21 to_II22 leading_VVG New_NP1 York_NP1 Democrats_NN2 ._. 
Mr._NNB Gaspard_NP1 regularly_RR speaks_VVZ with_IW Democrats_NN2 in_II New_NP1 York_NP1 ,_, party_NN1 leaders_NN2 say_VV0 ._. 
Beyond_II Mr._NNB Paterson_NP1 's_GE plight_NN1 ,_, Democratic_JJ candidates_NN2 also_RR have_VH0 to_TO contend_VVI with_IW historical_JJ trends_NN2 :_: the_AT party_NN1 of_IO a_AT1 sitting_NN1 president_NN1 typically_RR loses_VVZ House_NN1 seats_NN2 in_II the_AT midterm_NN1 election_NN1 ._. 
"_" In_BCL21 order_BCL22 to_TO be_VBI comfortable_JJ ,_, "_" said_VVD Mr._NNB Maffei_NP1 ,_, the_AT congressman_NN1 from_II the_AT Syracuse_NP1 area_NN1 ,_, "_" we_PPIS2 need_VV0 to_TO see_VVI the_AT governor_NN1 to_TO politically_RR rehabilitate_VVI himself_PPX1 or_CC step_VV0 aside_RL and_CC let_VV0 another_DD1 come_VVI in_RP ._. 
But_CCB that_DD1 is_VBZ up_II21 to_II22 him_PPHO1 ._. "_" 
