Paterson Speaks At Democratic National Convention DENVER, COLORADO (WXXI) - New York Governor David Paterson got his moment in the limelight when he spoke at the Convention Center here in Denver just before 6 pm eastern time Tuesday night.

The two hundred or so members of the New York delegation who came to the Convention Center made sure that Paterson could hear them loud and clear as New York's governor made his debut on the main stage at the Democratic National convention. They chanted his name for so long that Paterson, who was only allotted four minutes to speak, quipped that his time was already up.

The governor spoke of his visual impairment, which he's had since contracting an infection as a baby, and of how he overcame the obstacles that his blindness brought. He spoke out for other disabled Americans, citing statistics that 71 % of blind Americans and 90% of deaf Americans are jobless.

Paterson then asked which candidate would do most to give disabled and others opportunity.

"Is it John McCain?" he asked, to loud nos and boos from the New York delegates.

"No?" Paterson asked, to laughter. "I'm shocked."

The governor then threw in some partisan red meat, saying that McCain has voted with President George W. Bush 95% of the time. He said Barack Obama is the only candidate who "will make the change we need to restore the promise of America".

State Democratic Party Chair June O'Neill says Paterson made them all proud.

"He was right on, in terms of the difference between Barack Obama and John McCain," said O'Neill, who said she had cheered so much she was losing her voice.

Others, including Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi and Senate Minority Leader Malcolm Smith, says they wish the governor had been given more time to speak, and had a closer to prime time spot. But, they say, there's hope that Paterson, who's only been in office five months, might get more notice at the next Democratic convention.




© Copyright 2009, WXXI