Gov. David Paterson, who spoke after thanking volunteers prepping thousands of Thanksgiving meals in Albany this afternoon, said he doesn’t want to rush his selection of a successor to Democratic Sen. Hillary Clinton, presuming she does indeed get nominated to be President-elect Barack Obama’s secretary of state. The governor said he wouldn’t want his selection to in any way force the confirmation process for Clinton.

   Paterson and first lady Michelle Paige Paterson were in Albany’s Empire State Plaza (across from the Capitol) to thank people helping prepare meals for the annual Equinox Community Dinner. There are more than 3,000 volunteers, and more than 8,000 people will receive meals. 

   Paterson, a Democrat, said his first thought was to get the selection over as quickly as possible so he could get back to working on the state’s budget crisis. But if Clinton gets nominated, she would remain in office during the confirmation process.

   “I am reconsidering whether or not I should interfere with that natural process and name a successor, which is also almost like forcing the process when perhaps I should just let it work itself out and make my selection then,” he said, adding that he may find a way to indicate his choice privately to the successor so the person could start preparing.

   There is a diverse group of talented, sensitive and hard-working people, including women, minorities and upstate residents, who could step in for Clinton, the governor said. He noted that there is no one in statewide office who is from upstate or is Hispanic, and if Hillary Clinton’s replacement isn’t a woman, New York wouldn’t have a woman in statewide office.

   “What I think that’s true about New York is we have a number of people who would be great senators, and you’re going to have to be great because filling the shoes of our senator, Hillary Clinton, should she move on, is going to be very difficult. I’m glad it’s not me, because I’m not appointing myself,” he said.  

   When asked if he would appoint a screening panel or any kind of process to review potential replacements, Paterson said he’s learned that the process can become more of a problem than the selection. His administration will be consulting with people who have served in the Senate before, people who care about the state and are civic minded, and “just regular citizens.”

   “How many people would you need on a screening panel for everyone in New York to be happy,” he said.

   Paterson took a final question from a member of the legions of volunteers. His favorite pie to eat on Thanksgiving? “Any one that isn’t thrown at me,” he said in his trademark dry delivery. No really, his favorite is banana cream pie.