Is He New York's Next Governor?

If Eliot Spitzer resigns, his successor would be David Paterson, who would become the state's first black chief executive. The lieutenant governor, who is legally blind, would serve in the position until having to campaign for election in 2010, reports the National Ledger. Before today, Paterson's name had come up in discussions about filling Hillary Clinton's Senate seat should she win the presidency.

Paterson was born in Brooklyn, attended Columbia University, and was elected the New York State Senate's minority leader  in 2002, reports the Huffington Post. He also ran the New York marathon in 1999. The Real Clear Politics blog reports that he is involved in a discrimination lawsuit for reportedly firing a white reporter because of his race and hiring a black replacement. (More David Paterson stories.)