New York Gov. Paterson written off by experts, pols as he fends off rumors of sexual, political scandal

The pushback capped a remarkable few days in which an apparently orchestrated rumor mill about the gov's drug use and womanizing reached a fever pitch, peaking with blogs claiming his resignation was imminent.

An increasingly beleaguered Paterson scrambled yesterday to pick up the pieces of his political world as it crumbled around him.

"For the last couple of weeks I have been the subject of what, even by Albany standards, has been a spate of outrageous rumors about me," Paterson told The Associated Press.

He wouldn't finger a culprit for the rumors, but they are "certainly serving others' interest and not mine."

"It's a callous and sleazy way to treat a governor who is just trying to do his job, and in a democracy, is trying to keep his job."

Upon taking office, Paterson acknowledged he had been unfaithful to his wife and had tried drugs when he was young.

He has adamantly denied using drugs or cheating on his wife since becoming governor two years ago.