New York Gov. David Paterson plans to run for election to a full term, according to The Huffington Post. Paterson, who as lieutenant governor ascended to the post when disgraced Gov. Eliot Spitzer resigned in March due to scandal, had a rough first few weeks in office. But his star began to rise with his aggressive response to the economic slowdown and his forceful and forthright words about the state’s impending fiscal crisis.

“I’d like to run for reelection and serve as governor as a full term, have an actual transition period and a real inauguration,” Paterson, a Democrat, told the Huffington Post in an interview. “I see this as an immense challenge, and one that most people think is insurmountable with the number of people leaving New York state. And if in any way it would have been viewed that I did something to ameliorate the problems…. and brought people back, I would think that would be a satisfaction that I carried with me for the rest of my life.”

Paterson, the state’s first black governor, already has a Web site called Paterson for NY that showcases his achievements and plans. The election for governor will be held in November 2010.

The governor could face a variety of challengers. Those who have either hinted at making a run, or whose names have been prominently floated, include former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani and – to a lesser extent – Sen. Hillary Clinton. One name no longer on the list appears to be current mayor Michael Bloomberg, who is seeking a third term in office. Asked why voters should regard Bloomberg’s objectives any differently than when Giuliani tried to stay in office past the two-term limit following 9/11, Paterson offered a measure of support for his current New York government colleague.

“The difference between Giuliani and Bloomberg was that Giuliani just wanted an extra three months to hang around and that was against the law. Bloomberg wants to, presumably, have the city council extend the term limits, which under the law it is allowed to do,” he said. “I hope…that this is done in a fashion that doesn’t leave a bad taste or a precedent that could be exploited in a later date. As long as that’s the case, and he’d like to run for a third term, he has been an asset to the city for the last eight years. And there is no reason to think he wouldn’t be for another four.”

(Huffington Post / MyFoxNY)