Gov. Paterson is raising eyebrows in political circles by promising to raise an astounding $8 million in the next few months for his looming battle with Attorney General Andrew Cuomo.
Paterson, whose dismal Jan. 15 fund-raising report led many to conclude he’s a political dead duck, outlined the sky-high target at a secret strategy session attended by about 30 supporters Saturday morning at Mother AME Zion Church on 137th Street in Harlem, according to one of the participants.
“I’ll believe it when I see it,” said a second participant.
Paterson, whose latest state Board of Election filing showed him with just slightly more than $3 million in the bank — after having had more than $5 million last July — exchanged strong words at the meeting with Senate Democratic Conference leader John Sampson of Brooklyn.
“Sampson told the governor that his continuing attacks on the Legislature, and the Senate in particular, is going to be a problem in terms of support for him from Democratic senators,” said a witness.
“David said something in response but, frankly, I didn’t understand it, because you know how David can be when he gives you an ‘answer,’ ” he continued.
The meeting of mainly black Democrats, including former Mayor David Dinkins and, toward the end, Rep. Charles Rangel, was held less than 24 hours after Paterson announced the award of what is expected to be a highly lucrative contract for a massive video lottery casino at the Aqueduct Racetrack to a business group that counts former Democratic Rep. and Queens Greater Allen AME Zion Church Pastor Floyd Flake among its investors.
Flake has indicated a willingness to back Cuomo, who has a breathtaking $16 million-plus in his political war chest, against Paterson for governor, and the award is seen by many Democrats as an attempt to influence Flake’s decision.
*
Senate Democrats will be on tenterhooks today, fearing that Republicans will try to force a vote on the resolution to oust state Sen. Hiram Monserrate of Queens, who was convicted of a misdemeanor for “recklessly” injuring his girlfriend.
Such a GOP maneuver has been rumored for weeks.
The Democrats, who have been dragging their feet for weeks on the recommendation from a special committee to expel Monserrate, claim they’ll take up the vote next week.
But Democratic insiders also say leader Sen. John Sampson of Brooklyn, is, in the words of one, “shaking in his boots” over the vote — fearing “severe retaliation” by Hispanic senators.