GOV. PATERSON FIRES BACK AT CRITICS

Denies womanizing and drug use.

Gov. David Paterson has fired back at his critics, charging them with fabrications and outright lies in an attempt to destroy his political career. Speaking with the Associated Press, Paterson denied rumors of womanizing and drug use and blasted the media for printing "callous and sleazy" allegations.

Last week, the New York Post reported that Paterson was sleeping with a woman other than his wife in the Executive Mansion in Albany.  And then there were reports that the New York Times was ready to publish a story that would have caused Paterson to resign but that story has not appeared. This didn't stop capitol rumors, however, and Paterson said the following:  "For the last couple of weeks, I have been the subject of what, even by Albany standards, has been a spate of outrageious rumors about me.:

Paterson has denied all wrong doing and says he will continue his campaign for the Democrat nomination for governor.  Many leading Democrats in New York and Washington want Paterson to step aside for Attorney General Andrew Cuomo to get the nomination.