David Paterson was often mentioned as the man likely to replace Hillary Clinton in the Senate should she be elected president. But now, if Clinton beats both Barack Obama and John McCain on her way to the White House, that seems likely to only happen if he appoints himself.

Paterson is poised to take over as governor if and when Eliot Spitzer resigns in the wake of revelations of his alleged involvement in a prostitution ring. A federal investigation found a man identified in court papers as Client 9—but almost universally believed to be Spitzer—arranged for a prostitute to travel from New York to meet him at a Washington Hotel.

Over his 15 months in office so far, Paterson, the first African-American and legally blind man in his job, has generally taken to being called “governor” by everyone whenever Spitzer is not in the room. And he has clearly thought about the possibility of succession—at least in jest.

Speaking at an On/Off the Record breakfast held by City Hall and The Capitol in late October, Paterson took a pause from explaining the nebulous role of the lieutenant governor in office to remark on bringing the national lieutenant governor’s association to Buffalo this spring.

“Our constitution—other than the lieutenant governor taking over when the governor leaves—doesn’t really define the lieutenant governor’s role. And I was surprised to find out that they have an actual lieutenant governors association. When they were meeting in March, I kind of declined,” Paterson said. “I couldn’t understand why anyone would want to go and sit with such a morbid group of people, sitting around talking about criminal convictions and plane collisions.”

If and when Paterson becomes governor, the New York State Constitution does not provide for a new lieutenant governor to be named. The post would remain vacant until the end of the term in 2010.

This would also prevent Paterson from being the tie-breaker in the Senate. Senate Democrats, who have long been expecting to take the majority in the Senate this year, would have to capture two seats to make this happen. Since Darrel Aubertine’s Feb. 26 special election win, with Paterson as the tie-breaker, Democrats had been counting on just needing one seat—and perhaps taking control before November by flipping a GOP senator to their conference.

News of the prostitution indictment reportedly reached Spitzer’s staff on Friday. On Saturday, Paterson was sighted with two bodyguards. Generally when not on official duties, he does not travel with any.

Paterson represented West Harlem for 22 years in the State Senate. He ran unsuccessfully for New York City public advocate in 1993. In 2002, he staged a successful coup for the job of minority leader, booting State Sen. Martin Connor (D-Brooklyn/Manhattan) from the post.

Paterson was the first African-American in the job.

During his four years as leader, he transformed the caucus into one focused on claiming the majority and began a multi-year strategy of winning Senate seats around the state. Focused on this endeavor, he initially declined Spitzer’s offer to join the statewide ticket in 2006. Spitzer and Paterson have both admitted that it took multiple pleas to convince Paterson to run for lieutenant governor. A promise that Paterson be picked as Clinton’s successor in the Senate if she won the presidency was rumored to be part of the deal, but Spitzer’s commitment to focus on winning the Senate for Democrats was the clincher.

This led to Spitzer’s involvement in Senate races, including his appointment of Republican Sen. Michael Balboni to be his homeland security advisor, which some say helped poison the atmosphere in Albany since the outset of Spitzer’s term.

Paterson, who is married with two children, has thus far taken a more conciliatory approach to governing than the combative Spitzer. He has worked with Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno (R) on securing $600 million for stem cell research, and has supported initiatives designed to help minority and women owned businesses.

He has also been a major supporter of Hillary Clinton’s, appearing on stage with her after the Iowa caucuses and remaining loyal even as some pressured him to support the candidacy of Obama, who is also African-American.

At the City Hall and The Capitol On/Off the Record breakfast, Patterson said he was trying to steer clear of the fights between Bruno and Spitzer that have dominated Albany since Spitzer took office. He was wary of falling into the dysfunction that seems to plague Albany.

“That is what I warned the governor: that if you stay there long enough, you either become part of the problem—it’s kind of like Little Shop of Horrors: you become part of the plant,” he said.  “Or you are so antagonistic to it—and I think we’ve seen a little of that—that it’s so frustrating that sometimes you might engage in the acrimonies a little too much.”

Photo by Andrew Schwartz.