Gov. David Paterson of New York is refusing to bend under pressure from top Democrats to get out of the 2010 race for governor to make way for state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo.

Paterson says he won’t give up even though leaders of his own party say he should step aside to allow Cuomo to strengthen the ticket next year. Paterson says he’s still “clearly running.”

The governor says he understands that President Barack Obama needs to make sure he has all the New York congressional votes he can muster because he often can’t attract even one Republican vote on legislation.

The governor says his critics will soon realize he was right to refuse to give up.