Senate
ORG
Senate
Mr. Paterson has explained political skills in the past, he became the minority leader in the Senate a little more than three years ago by pulling off a coup, which is a rare feat in Albany. Still, the successes that Senate Democrats have had in recent elections have led some political analysts here to believe that they could be within an election or two of wresting control of the Senate from the Republicans for the first time in more than three decades. The news which Mr. Paterson was preparing to leave the Senate set the Capitol astir, with Republicans gloating that it could be a sign that the news of their impending death has been greatly exaggerated.