A topic of much discussion of late, at least here in the newsroom, is when, oh when, will Gov. David Paterson call for a special election to fill the vacant seat in the 20th Congressional District.

At first, I thought the Governor would call for an election shortly after the two parties named their candidates. Now, it's been nearly a business week since the Democrats named Scott Murphy, and there has still been no call for an election. Today, the following statement found its way in to my inbox:

In order to determine the most appropriate time to ensure the fullest participation in the special election for the 20th Congressional District, Governor Paterson's counsel has reached out to both candidates, and is consulting with the Board of Elections and good government groups. While it is Governor Paterson's intention to have the election as soon as possible, it is also incumbent on the Governor's Office to select a date that will give as many people as possible the opportunity to vote while not disrupting the March 18 village elections and comply with election law.

It should be noted that while two candidates have been selected informally, both will be required to submit official certificates of nomination following the issuance of the Governor's proclamation.

Morgan Hook

Deputy Press Secretary

Governor David A. Paterson

So, the governor's staff is saying that he's waiting for the right spot on the calendar, but with the National Republican Congressional Committee taking pot shots at Murphy every three or four minutes, and with James Tedisco as a -- to gravely understate the matter -- formidable candidate squaring off across the aisle, Paterson is left with a sticky bit of politics at a time in which he's already been criticized for his handling of Senator Gillibrand's appointment.

As long as Tedisco is out on the campaign trail, he won't be causing too many problems in Albany. Should he be elected to Congress, he'll be causing even fewer problems in the state's capital. But, Paterson has to weight that heavily against the millions spent to catapult Kirsten Gillibrand into office in 2006, and to keep her there in 2008. That is a costly seat to loose to the GOP, and as long as it remains vacant there is one fewer Rebuplican in Washington. Perhaps Paterson is calling a time-out, of sorts, to figure out the party's best strategy in taking on Tedisco's machine?

Of course, there is also the matter of Tedisco's would-be vacant seat in the assembly. Once vacated, it's unlikely that the GOP would be able to hold that district, so one must wonder why Paterson is, in effect, delaying a second special election to fill that seat, likely with a member of his own party.

I don't know the governnor, and I don't have a clear sense of what he's thinking here, but one thing is clear: he isn't making any friends among the media by delaying a closely-watched election that should prove to be a boon to media outlets around the capital area.