In an exclusive interview Friday with NY1's political anchor Dominic Carter, a tough-talking Governor David Paterson vowed to run for governor next year and said he would beat any Democrat in a primary contest.

Paterson's administration has been plagued by problems and low poll numbers.

When asked if he intends to run in 2010, Paterson said he will run for governor, no matter what his poll numbers.

"It's not that it's conventional wisdom, it's opportunistic wisdom by those who would probably benefit by my not running for governor again," Paterson said. "The fact is, if I run for governor again, I will win the primary. Write that down, Dominic, because in about 18 months we're going to go over it. The point is, the only way to stop me from running the primary would be to create an atmosphere that would convince people, people who would like to support me, that I'm not running."

Paterson also spoke about a possible primary match-up with State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, as recent polls show that Cuomo would trounce Paterson in that match-up.

Paterson: I'm not going to speculate about specific individuals. The attorney general has represented the state very well, I think. So have I. That speculative, if that ever came to fruition, we would talk about it then.

Carter: Would Andrew Cuomo make a good governor?

Paterson: Absolutely.

Carter: A better governor than you?

Paterson: I don't think so, but if you asked him, you would probably get the opposite point of view.

About a possible gubernatorial run by former Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, Paterson said:

"It's his choice if he wants to run, but if he thinks he’s the answer, the question must be ridiculous."

When asked point-blank if he was definitely running for governor in 2010, Paterson said with a wry smile:

"Dominic, if you promise not to ask any other guests whether they think I'm running for governor since you've now heard it from me, even you will understand that I am running for governor."

Speaking of the highs and lows of his administration to date, Paterson said, "In retrospect it might have been better to have rearranged the staff and the office when I first came in."

Paterson, the former lieutenant governor, took office in March 2008 when former governor Eliot Spitzer resigned the governorship after being caught in a prostitution scandal.