To view our videos, you need to
enable JavaScript. Learn how.
install Adobe Flash 9 or above. Install now.

Then come back here and refresh the page.

What are New York Democrats to do when their president and governor are in a political feud? Mayoral candidate Bill Thompson is simply trying his best to stay out of it.

"I don't know that anybody can determine what the governor's going to do," Thompson said. "I think in the end, it's going to have to be a decision that he makes as to whether he's going to run or not. So on this one, do I have advice for him? I don't."

Some Paterson supporters took a different tack. Congressman Charles Rangel, who stood by Paterson's side as he took questions at Sunday's African-American Day Parade, questioned the veracity of news reports about next year's election.

"It's only a report from a reporter. There's absolutely no evidence to substantiate this. But all of a sudden, it's a news story," Rangel said.

"As far as I'm concerned, they're news reports right now," said Democratic comptroller candidate John Liu.

Among parade-goers at the African-American Day Parade, opinion was split. Although many agreed that if Paterson has no chance of winning next November, he should step aside -- no matter the color of his skin.

"I don't think race is a part of it. I think it has to do with the job that's being done. And apparently the president feels that he's not doing the best job he can do," said one New Yorker.

"As a Democrat, we don't want to lose the governorship. We want to keep that spot," said another New Yorker.

Despite the fact Paterson endorsed Bill Thompson for mayor on Friday, he got some support Sunday from Thompson's opponent, Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

"He's up to the job. I'm going to do everything I can to help him," Bloomberg said. "I don't know whether he wants to run for re-election, but if he does, I would urge him, go for it."

There were also those who saw the controversy mostly as a distraction from their own campaigns.

"The important issue here is, we have this election to go through, we have a lot of substantive issues before the state. It's not time for all these decisions to be made yet," said Democratic public advocate candidate Bill de Blasio.