After telling Governor Paterson to drop out of race, the Obama White House denies that they told him that

Forget what you read in the NY Times. The WH denies that they told the NY Times what the paper says that they said. Fox News has this:

The New York Times reported this morning that President Obama sent a request to NY Governor Paterson asking him to withdraw from the 2010 Governor's race.

A Senior Administration official tells Mike Emanuel: "President Obama is not involved in any way. There are officials in the White House that share the concerns that are widely held in New York about the very challenging political environment confronting Governor Paterson."

The official says those concerns were expressed via the appropriate channels.

"Nobody asked him to get out of the race - it is Governor Paterson's decision to make. We're confident he'll make the decision based on the best interests of the state."

You can read the original New York Times story after the jump or here.

September 21, 2009
PATERSON SAYS HE WILL RUN DESPITE WHITE HOUSE PRESSURE


By RAYMOND HERNANDEZ and JEFF ZELENY


Gov. David A. Paterson defiantly vowed to run for election next year despite the White House‘s urging that he withdraw from the New York governor’s race.

Appearing tired and agitated as reporters crowded him at a parade in Harlem on Sunday, the governor said that he would not abandon his campaign to seek a full term.

“I have said time and time again that I am running for governor next year,” he said at the 40th annual African-American Day Parade.

Mr. Paterson would not characterize what he was told by the White House, saying that he would not “discuss confidential conversations.”

“I’m not talking about any specific conversations,” he said. “As I said, I am running for office.”

President Obama had sent a request to Mr. Paterson that he withdraw from the New York governor’s race, fearing that Mr. Paterson cannot recover from his dismal political standing, according to two senior administration officials and a New York Democratic operative with direct knowledge of the situation. . . .