For both Eric Gioia and Bill de Blasio, a seat on the City Council was always supposed to be a stepping-stone.

Mr. Gioia, 35, has been preparing for higher office since his election to the Council seven years ago, and has raised more money since then than all but three of his Council colleagues. Mr.  read more »

ALBANY—State Senator Carl Kruger said he doesn't know much of Tom Golisano, the upstate billionaire and three-time gubernatorial candidate, but stopped short of denying Liz's report that they will meet tomorrow.  read more »

David Paterson basks in Clinton-related attention.

According to Rick Karlin, in Albany, "Speculation about whether there will a retirement incentive has become something of a favorite indoor sport."  read more »

In a brief scrum with reporters in City Hall this afternoon, Christine Quinn said she hoped New Yorkers gets the $400 rebate checks the mayor has tried to rescind.  read more »

ALBANY—The counsel for the Commission on Judicial Nomination, which yesterday released seven candidates to replace retiring Chief Judge Judith Kaye, said he cannot comment on specific deliberations of the group before it nominated an all-male, mostly white slate.  read more »

Yep, that’s Tom Ognibene, the Republican who ran a primary against Michael Bloomberg in 2005 (and more recently lost a City Council primary), at this morning's campaign kick-off event for Eric Ulrich, who is running for City Council.  read more »

ALBANY—A week before the election, State Senator Carl Kruger sent thousands of dollars to fellow members of the now "gang of three" senators, election filings  read more »

From PolitickerPA reported Dan Hirschhorn, at the National Governors Association in Philadelphia:

David Paterson reiterated today that he would take his time in choosing a Senate replacement for Hillary Clinton, and that no announcement would be made until after she is confirmed as secretary of state by the Senate.  read more »

]]> http://www.observer.com/2008/paterson-i-think-i-can-take-time#comments Politics Barack Obama David Paterson Hillary Clinton Joe Biden Tue, 02 Dec 2008 14:37:26 -0500 Katharine Jose 79641 at http://www.observer.com http://www.observer.com/2008/teachers-union-preparing-hold-grudge-tax-cap

ALBANY—The state teachers' union said it is prepared to take the same measures this legislative session as last in fighting against a cap on property taxes.  read more »

]]> http://www.observer.com/2008/teachers-union-preparing-hold-grudge-tax-cap#comments Politics Budget 2009 David Paterson NYSUT tax cap Tue, 02 Dec 2008 13:27:13 -0500 Jimmy Vielkind 79640 at http://www.observer.com http://www.observer.com/2008/diaz-monserrate-echo-paterson-judicial-diversity

A day after David Paterson criticized the slate of candidates he can choose from to replace Chief Judge Judith Kaye, State Senator Ruben Diaz, Sr. and Senator-elect Hiram Monserrate have released statements saying they, too, are unhappy about the lack of diversity.  read more »

]]> http://www.observer.com/2008/diaz-monserrate-echo-paterson-judicial-diversity#comments Politics Hiram Monserrate Ruben Diaz Sr. Tue, 02 Dec 2008 13:03:34 -0500 Azi Paybarah 79637 at http://www.observer.com