Spin Cycle

Melissa Mansfield of our Albany bureau catches a Paterson appearance on TV, shortly after NY polls close:

"When asked if Sen. Barack Obama is up for the challenges ahead of him, specifically the fiscal crisis, Gov. Paterson said:

“ 'I think he’s already started. The last time our economy was in such recession was at the time of the great depression itself. And after all the programs, all the policies and all the laws that were enacted under President Roosevelt, what do we remember most? All we have to fear is fear itself. In other words, he set a tone.

" 'He was a symbolic leader, challenging all of us to fight back. And I think the turnouts, the number of people who’ve been excited, the 140 million people who may have voted today, this is attributed to the Obama factor, whether if you voted for him or against him.

" 'But he’s enthusiastic. He’s strong. He’s quite an intellect. We will see, almost like with a Henry the Fifth, him grow in his administration, which every great president has.'

"He also said that despite who people voted for, they should 'feel that their opportunity to be successful in this land was enhanced,' by Obama’s win tonight."