From Chuck Todd’s first read:

As today’s New York Times indicates, the president isn’t being shy about getting involved in key political races, even if it means taking sides in a Democratic primary or, in the case of embattled/unpopular New York Governor David Paterson, suggest to him that he not run. Obama’s not just the Commander-in-Chief, leader of the free world etc.., he’s also the head of the Democratic Party. Because these next set of elected governors (in 2009 and 2010) will be in office when the next round of redistricting/reapportionment takes place, it raises the stakes even higher than usual. All of this may explain why the White House — whose chief of staff Rahm Emanuel, himself has spent years getting Dems elected to the House — is taking such an interest in governor’s races.In the case of New York, the state may lose another House seat once the census is completed, making the redistricting process very important if they want to protect some newly elected Democrats sitting in swing/GOP leaning districts. So that’s why governors matter so much more this cycle than the last two combined. How important are governor races to the White House?

Read the rest here ..