in october 2008, paterson launched a campaign website and announced his intention to run for a full term as governor. paterson's prime republican opponent was expected to be former new york city mayor rudy giuliani. by february 2009, after the prolonged senate appointment process, a siena college poll indicated that paterson was losing popularity among new yorkers and showed giuliani with a fifteen-point lead in a hypothetical contest. in april 2009, a quinnipiac poll found that 60% of voters disapproved of paterson's performance (the worst-ever rating for a new york governor); 53% believed that paterson should withdraw his candidacy for the gubernatorial election. in an august 21, 2009 radio interview, paterson suggested that his low popularity was caused by racism and added that gov. deval patrick of massachusetts had received a similar reception. paterson added that president barack obama would be the next african-american elected official to suffer from poor approval due to his skin color. the white house asked paterson to tone down his comments on race, but less than 24 hours later, paterson said: "[one] very successful minority is permissible; but when you see too many success stories, then some people get nervous."