Paterson Shuns Spitzer Limits on Contributions

Since taking office, Governor Paterson has taken pains to distinguish himself from his disgraced predecessor, Eliot Spitzer. Another difference emerged yesterday, when Mr. Paterson disclosed that he would accept significantly larger campaign contributions than Mr. Spitzer had.

Upon taking office, Mr. Spitzer imposed on himself a $10,000 ceiling on contributions from individuals, political action committees, and unions. The legal limit in New York is $55,900. Mr. Paterson, who was Mr. Spitzer's lieutenant governor and like the former governor modeled himself as a reformer, also said at the time he would adhere to the lower limit.

Now, as governor and with plans to keep his job beyond 2010, Mr. Paterson is backing out of that agreement.

"The governor is committed to campaign finance reform, but in order to compete on a level playing field he will adhere to the limits that are set under current rules," a spokesman for Mr. Paterson's campaign committee, Jonathan Rosen, said.

Mr. Paterson, who had $114,000 in his campaign account in January, will need to raise millions of dollars to be competitive in the 2010 race, where he will likely face a tough Democratic primary opponent.

Mr. Spitzer, the son of a wealthy real estate developer, had the advantages of a family fortune and an extensive fund-raising network, both of which Mr. Paterson lacks.

When he announced his $10,000 limit, Mr. Spitzer won acclaim from civic groups that favored tightening state campaign finance laws. The former governor said he was trying to set an example that would encourage other politicians in Albany to follow suit. Lawmakers, however, refused to follow his lead or pass laws lowering contribution limits.

Mr. Spitzer received negative publicity when it was reported that he was encouraging donors to bundle their contributions and was instructing supporters to send money beyond the $10,000 to the Democratic state party committee, which he controlled.