Paterson on Hillary's Appointment and, Unrelatedly, Suozzi

ALBANY—He'd no longer be speculating on speculation, but David Paterson still won't say much about who he might appoint to Hillary Clinton's senate seat, except to praise her as she moves toward becoming secretary of state.

"She probably was thought at first as someone who had been placed, to someone whose place can't be taken," Paterson said this afternoon. "And I think that's really, for today, the issue. I'm not leaving the state. I'll be around. We can go through all of this again tomorrow. But today, I thought was such an apex of service to this country."

Standing next to him at a press conference in the Red Room was Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi, the chairman of the Commission on Property Tax Relief, as they unveiled the commission's proposals. Paterson was asked if he thought Suozzi would do a good job as senator.

Paterson turned to Suozzi.

"Would you?" He asked. Suozzi turned a shade of crimson.

As the two walked to the podium, Paterson began his remarks by saying "I have an important announcement for the State of New York. Tom Suozzi," he paused, pregnantly, as those gathered laughed, "has done an excellent job working with the New York State Commission on Property Tax relief, and I want to thank him..."