NY congressman says Obama never ordered him to persuade Paterson to drop 2010 governor bid

Rep: Obama didn’t ask me to intervene in NY race

ALBANY, N.Y. — A Democratic congressman from New York City says he was never ordered by President Barack Obama to intervene in the 2010 race for governor.

Rep. Gregory Meeks of Queens said Thursday that he talked to New York Gov. David Paterson last weekend about White House concerns over Paterson’s low poll numbers. But he says Obama never asked him to get involved.

Meeks says Obama needs the support of as many Democrats as possible to advance his agenda, so he understands the White House’s concerns about Paterson.

Neither Paterson nor the White House immediately commented Thursday.

Meeks’ remarks come as a Marist College poll finds most New Yorkers saying Obama should stay out of state politics.