Gov. Paterson's Problems Couldn't Get Worse, Could They?

They do.

Gov. Paterson's campaign-finance reports show he paid $1,000 to a woman who says she barely knows him, didn't work for him and never received any money, The Post has learned.

Luisa Vizcarrondo, 49, was listed as "staff" on Paterson's campaign for re-election when he was in the state Senate, and a payment of $1,000 was made to her on June 25, 2002, according the records.

But the New Jersey day-care worker insisted that wasn't the case.

She says she had never worked for Paterson and that she must be the wrong person.

So, the question remains who got the money and for what purpose was it given? Paterson's campaign manager is under the gun to provide details about whether Paterson used campaign funds for his extramarital affairs. If he had used such funds, it would be a criminal act.

The Post's review thus far has found more than 60 instances where Paterson's campaign paid for hotel stays since 1999. Paterson says that he's reimbursed the campaign for those stays.

In addition to hotel stays, Paterson's campaign account spent thousands of dollars on meals and flowers.

In the city, his campaign paid between $104 and $251 for four stays at a Quality Inn where he is known to have brought at least one woman and reportedly admitted to using - but later reimbursing - campaign cash.

Meanwhile, Lila Kirton is stunned at the chain of events since Paterson admitted to the affair. After all, no one expected Paterson to admit to extracurricular activities.

The Daily News also reports that most New Yorkers are on the fence about Paterson. He's got a 46% approval rating. If this first week is any indication, he's going to have a real hard time ever cracking 50%.

UPDATE:
Capitol Confidential reports that there's a good chance the state budget wont be passed on time, which is business as usual in Albany.

They also note that Spitzer has entered sex addiction therapy (and will get a whole thread devoted to that!).