(Thumbnail image from The New York Times)

The New York Times broke the story this weekend that the White House is asking New York Governor David Paterson not to seek a second term. News reports focus on the reasons behind the president’s request.  MSNBC emphasizes the political nature of the move.

“The story cites two senior officials and a New York democratic operative. The paper claims the decision to ask Paterson to step aside was suggested by political advisors, but the move was approved by President Obama himself.”

The Washington Post, The New York Times, and wire services all report that the request comes from political advisors in the White House and does not involve direct communication between President Obama and Governor Paterson.

Amy Sullivan at TIME Magazine’s politics blog The Swampland is surprised.

“It's highly unusual for a president to step in and tell a governor who is not facing something like a crippling scandal or imminent indictment that his time is up.”

On CBS’s Face the Nation, Republican Party Chairman Michael Steele turns towards race.

“That the White House would send word to one of only two black governors in the country, not to run for re-election. And it just raised a curious point for me.  I think Governor Paterson’s numbers are just about the same as Governor Corzine’s numbers, and yet the president was with Governor Corzine. And I don’t know if there’s been a request for Governer Corzine to step down in New Jersey. So I just find it to be stunning. And also rather bold.”

On WCBS, in New York City, political commenter Errol Lewis discusses the reasons for Obama’s request. He emphasizes that the request was made to shore up the Democratic Party in New York against Paterson’s dismal approval ratings.

“The loss of New York State to the Republicans would be a major blow.  Possibly after loosing the governorship in New Jersey, right here, and possibly in Virginia.  So they don’t want Republicans to get a head of steam, to build up a lot of momentum for the mid-term elections or for the 2012 elections…”

The National Journal’s daily news service The Hotline brings up speculation regarding New York attorney general Andrew Cuomo, whose  approval ratings are higher than Paterson’s.

“It was expected that sometime this fall, Paterson would be asked by Dems to step aside for a stronger nominee: AG Andrew Cuomo (D) … with the specter of a top-tier GOP candidate, ex-NYC Mayor Rudy Giuiliani (R), entering the contest, Obama decided to make the surprising move.”