The Morning Read: Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Dan Janison writes of the new governor’s revelation that he had an affair, “As long as he keeps his sense of humor and sense of who he is, and keeps things on the level, Paterson might come through just fine.”

Bill Hammond writes of David Paterson and his lobbyist father, “With all due respect to both Patersons, this is an ethical minefield.”

The Washington Post editorial board says, “We long for a return to a vigorous debate about kitchen-table issues,” but the speech that Barack Obama will give later today about race is "required."

Lynn Sweet thinks it “will determine if his campaign will be crippled by the Wright controversy.”

Tony Avella wants the buildings commissioner to resign.

The Gowanus Lounge makes 12 suggestions for improving the Department of Buildings.

Norman Oder thinks Paterson should create a state commission on eminent domain.

Davidson Goldin considers whether Mario Cuomo was absent from yesterday’s festivities in Albany because they “could mark the end of Andrew Cuomo's gubernatorial ambitions.”

Both Clintons are barnstorming Indiana ahead of the May 6 primaries.

A majority of Democrats think that a “superdelegate win” in the Democratic primary would be unfair, according to a new USA Today poll.

Congestion pricing supporters are holding a rally today in Albany.

Bernie Kerik finally found a new lawyer.

Matthew Wald writes about New York State's opposition to the relicensing of Indian Point.

The New York Times visits a school for the blind during Paterson’s swearing-in ceremony yesterday.

State Transportation Commissioner Astrid Glynn will soon propose a five-year plan for the state’s transportation system that she says should “stress a ‘multi-modal’ approach that provides more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly options such as mass transit and rail.”

The Democrat and Chronicle editorial board wants Paterson to “devise a detailed, bipartisan strategy to address and remedy the intractable problems in New York's large cities, especially upstate.”

The Chicago Tribune profiles Ed Rendell.

A CNN poll shows both Hillary Clinton and Obama would tie McCain in a hypothetical general election.

Bill Clinton criticizes the criticism he received over what he said about Obama in South Carolina.

The New York Times editorial board hopes that the Supreme Court will uphold the right of Washington, D.C. to ban handguns when it rules on the issue later today.