O’Donnell: It’s Not Me

ALBANY—It's not Danny O'Donnell. Sign Up For Our Daily Newsletter Sign Up Thank you for signing up! By clicking submit,

ALBANY—It's not Danny O'Donnell.

Sign Up For Our Daily Newsletter

By clicking submit, you agree to our <a href="http://observermedia.com/terms">terms of service</a> and acknowledge we may use your information to send you emails, product samples, and promotions on this website and other properties. You can opt out anytime.

See all of our newsletters

"The governor called me today and told me about 5 p.m., and invited me to come tomorrow," O'Donnell just told me, referring to David Paterson's scheduled announcement of who he will designate to be the next U.S. senator. "He told me I was not the designee and thanked me for participating in the process. He didn't say who his designee was, and I resisted the temptation to be a pushy New Yorker and ask."

O'Donnell was interviewed by the governor last month for the position, and estimated he had maybe a ten percent chance at winning the seat. He would have been the first openly gay man to sit in the U.S. Senate.

Other candidates were expecting calls this evening, a source affiliated with one said. Earlier today, Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown said he believed he was still in contention for the appointment.

O’Donnell: It’s Not Me