Paterson Sworn in As New York’s Governor

David Paterson, 53, was sworn in Monday as the 55th governor of New York, succeeding Eliot Spitzer, who resigned last week in disgrace.

Spitzer, whose resignation was effective Monday, left the office after his link to a high-priced prostitution ring was revealed.

Cheers interrupted the swearing in, prompting Chief Judge Judith Kaye to quip, Not yet, before completing the oath nearly drowned by eruption of applause and chants of, David, David, David.

In his 12-minute inaugural address, Patterson warned our economy appears to be headed toward crisis, and called for a bipartisan effort of unity and hope, The New York Times reported.

New Yorkers awoke to a not-so-ordinary day, he said, yet the day was like any other because today, like we always do … we move forward.

Paterson, who is legally blind, displayed a sense of humor as he poked fun at state legislative leaders and himself.

A political who’s who attended the swearing-in of New York’s first black governor, including former governors George Pataki and Hugh Carey, as well as the state’s congressional delegation, including Sen. Charles Schumer and Sen. Hillary Clinton, who broke away from campaigning to be the Democratic presidential nominee to attend the ceremony.