Gov. David Paterson, speaking this morning at a high school in Buffalo before he addresses state Democrats, said he’s not ruling out any spending cuts to the state budget, including potentially cuts to education.

“There isn’t anything that we are ruling out in terms of looking at our deficit,” he said. “We have a $3 billion shortfall in the middle of a budget year, which may be the first time this has happened in our history.”

He continued that, “This is a very difficult situation for us to be in and singling out and asking about different areas is igniting, what I think, is the whole problem with this recession—that no one understands how immense is actually is.”

Paterson has yet to provide a plan on how he would close the state’s $3 billion midyear deficit and held a leaders’ meeting last week without coming to any resolution with legislative leaders.

“Everybody is asking about their particular area,” Paterson continued. “We’ve got to come together as a state and recognize that we’re going to have to have a shared sacrifice. And we are all going to probably lose what would be funding or resources that we deserve to have. But that’s what a recession is – when for awhile you don’t get what you rightly deserve.”

Paterson also was asked about his political future, and he reiterated he’s running for election and said “I’m running for governor and I have not been approached by one Democratic elected official who suggested I not run for re-election.”

Earlier this month, White House aide Patrick Gaspard met with Paterson to express President Obama’s concerns about his running again. And then he met later in the week with Rep. Gregory Meeks, who told reporters last week that he didn’t tell Paterson to quit the race but “telling a friend what the issues are that are out there.”

His campaign put out a letter today to Democrats attending the fall meeting in Buffalo, in which Paterson lays out the reasons why he should be the party’s candidate next year.

The letter is below.

September 30, 2009
Dear Fellow Democrat,

Welcome to Buffalo and the New York State Democratic Committee’s Fall Business Meeting.

It’s a busy time in Democratic politics. We have leaders to thank for their great service, new leaders to welcome aboard-and a lot of work to do.

In recent days and weeks, you’ve heard me say that it’s a tough time to be governor. But I couldn’t love the job more. I will continue to stay focused on doing what’s right for New Yorkers. Others may be preoccupied with poll numbers, or pundit and tabloid games, or speculation about people who may want this job. But that’s not for me. Doing the work of governor is.

As we move into the 2010 election year, I can assure you that my commitments are unwavering: always doing right by the people of this state, even when it means standing up to well-funded special interests; working toward a full economic recovery through fiscal discipline and innovative strategies for job growth; and remaining true to Democratic principles every step of the way.

I am proud to serve this state as your Democratic governor. And I am eager to make the case to all of you here, and to New Yorkers across the state, that I should have the privilege to remain in that role for four more years. New Yorkers are the only people I answer to, and it is through their good graces that I will continue my service to this great state.

We have a lot of work ahead of us to make that case loudly and continuously across New York. Your input and support are essential to our success. My campaign manager, Richard Fife, will be happy to talk with you during our time in Buffalo, or anytime. You can reach him at my campaign headquarters at (212) 286-2010 or by email at rfife@governorpaterson2010.com. And you can stay up to date with my campaign at my website, www.governorpaterson2010.com, or my twitter feed, @govpaterson2010.

In the end, this is not about me. This is about you. This is about what is best for the future of our state. We are all in this together.

Please enjoy your time here and thank you again for all your hard work.

Sincerely,

Governor David A. Paterson