Seriously, who would have thought, a couple of years ago, that Eliot Spitzer's determined decision to name his running mate would make any real difference?

At this point, if there is anyone we would choose right now to put in the position of having to step in and become one of the "three men in the room," facing off opposite Sheldon Silver and Joseph Bruno just two weeks before the end of the fiscal year, rebuild confidence in our state government's ability to get things done, and do it all with a recession on the horizon and special interest groups licking their chops, it's David Paterson.

Sure, there were good people mounting a run for Lieutenant Governor (or, as it says in our state constitution, "lieutenant-governor"). But I for one am relieved that Spitzer brought then-Senator Paterson on board. I met the other candidates, and it's possible that they could have done the job. But I wouldn't want to bet a $120 billion budget on it, not with everything the new Governor will be up against.

In theory, when someone running for chief executive, whether of a city, a state or the country, picks a running mate, the choice is supposed to be based on who would be the best person to step in and take over on short notice. Fortunately, Eliot Spitzer made the right choice.

With the fall of Eliot Spitzer, one question nobody in the press is likely to ask is what financial effect this will have on the state Democratic party and campaign committees.

A recent article in the NY Times talks about Spitzer's ability to raise large donations for the state party. With his departure, will that money dry up, or will he continue to work behind the scenes?

The other question that we'll probably never get an answer to (partly because nobody will ask) is whether Spitzer's decision to resign was based in any part on input from his donors.

Not to harp on one topic, but the only way to get past this pestilential money chase is full public funding of elections, known as "Clean Money, Clean Elections." Stay tuned for major announcements on this topic.