Along with the prospect of a State Senate race in Harlem and of a contest to replace Paterson as Minority Leader, the question isn't so much why Eliot picked Paterson as why Paterson gave up the propsect of being Senate Majority Leader -- the second-most-powerful pol in the State -- for the prospect of becoming Lieutenant Governor, not the second, or third, or fourth, or fifteenth, most powerful person in the state.

One line of speculation: Paterson's eyes are on a future statewide run. For the other kind of Senate.

Also, Paterson's father, Basil, is a partner at Meyer, Suozzi, English, and Klein. And yes, the Suozzi is Joseph, father of Tom.

But that shouldn't be cause for workplace tension. After all, as a reader reminds me, Basil has already endorsed for Lieutenant Governor. He's backing Leecia Eve.