Standing in the wings to take over from Governor Spitzer if Mr. Spitzer steps down is the lieutenant governor, David Paterson, who would become the first black governor of New York and, apparently, the first legally blind governor in American history.

Mr. Paterson would be thrust into the governorship at a time when Albany is facing a worsening economy, legislative paralysis, and potential fallout from the emerging Spitzer scandal.

Elected officials from both sides of the aisle interviewed yesterday praised Mr. Paterson as a competent, amiable politician and a powerful orator who understands the mechanisms of state government as well as anyone. Colleagues described Mr. Paterson as unlike Mr. Spitzer, whose 15-month governorship has been punctuated by repeated clashes with the Senate majority leader, Joseph Bruno. Mr. Paterson was seen as more of a unifier who has the ability to reach across party lines.

Still, it is unclear, sources say, whether he would be prepared to lead in the wake of a Spitzer resignation, considering his lack of executive experience and the absence of a political mandate by the voters of New York State.

Although his current position makes him the second-in-command, Mr. Paterson has not played a central role in the administration but has advised the governor on a few specific issues, such as stem cell research, renewable energy, and domestic violence.

During his tenure, he often requested that his portfolio be broadened, and privately expressed disappointment about his limited mandate.

Mr. Paterson, 53, has more than 22 years of public service spanning a variety of roles that includes a stint in the Queens district attorney’s office after graduating from Hofstra Law School. He then moved on to a state Senate seat in 1985, representing the 29th District of Harlem, and was elected Senate minority leader in 2002.

He is married with two children and is an adjunct professor at Columbia University’s School for International and Public Affairs. He has been legally blind since infancy.

Mr. Paterson’s father, Basil, was a state senator from Harlem and the secretary of state of New York. His father helped set him off on his political career. Basil Paterson’s online profile at the law firm of Meyer, Suozzi, English & Klein states that he “personally represents” both Local 1199/SEIU and the United Federation of Teachers, two labor unions with significant interests in Albany.

When Mr. Spitzer selected Mr. Paterson as his lieutenant governor two years ago it surprised several of Harlem’s most prominent black leaders. Many of those leaders, including Mr. Paterson’s own father, Mayor Dinkins. and Rep. Charles Rangel had already endorsed another lesser-known candidate, Leecia Eve.

“Were Governor Spitzer to resign, David Paterson would make a superb governor,” Mayor Dinkin, said yesterday in an interview. “I am biased as I have known him his entire life, but he is a spectacular man.”

On the policy side, Mr. Paterson has had few signature issues and is tougher to pin down, according to a number of experts. He has been an advocate of stem cell research, and has shown willingness to offer support for publicly funded vouchers for private schools. He has also expressed opposition to the death penalty, a position that contrasts with Mr. Spitzer, who has expressed support for its use against terrorists, mass-murders, and those who have killed police officers.

An associate professor of political science at Fordham University, Bruce Berg, characterized Mr. Paterson as a traditional moderate liberal. “I think that he and Hillary Clinton would see eye-to-eye,” he said.

Recently, Mr. Paterson has been campaigning on behalf of Senator Clinton for President and was an oft-mentioned candidate favorite to fill her Senate seat if she were elected. That appointment would be made by the governor of New York.

Mr. Paterson has mostly steered clear of controversy. A number of his professional biographies said he was from Harlem, when in fact he was born in Brooklyn. A few months ago, he was the target of a discrimination lawsuit filed by a white photographer who claims he was fired by Mr. Paterson because he wasn’t black. Mr. Paterson has denied any wrongdoing.

As minority leader in the state Senate, Mr. Paterson oversaw a central staff of 143 employees, a staffing level that dwarfed its counterparts in other populous states.

A professor of public policy at Baruch College, Douglas Muzzio, said the biggest difference between Mr. Paterson and Mr. Spitzer is their personal backgrounds.

“He comes from a different pedigree than Spitzer. He is much more the political insider than the outsider that Spitzer was,” Mr. Muzzio said.

But he questioned whether Mr. Paterson’s experience gained from his two key roles as senate minority leader and lieutenant governor — both positions that lack the power exerted in Albany by the governor, the Senate majority leader, or the speaker of the Assembly — have adequately prepared him to be governor.

“His experience as a senate minority leader doesn’t prepare you for much because you are not one of the three men in the back room,” Mr. Muzzio said.

State Senator William Perkins, who took over Mr. Paterson’s state Senate seat, said he sees challenges ahead if Mr. Paterson becomes the 59th Governor of New York.

“This is the most challenging period in state governing. The expectations are high and the needs are great. I don’t remember in my time anyone coming into office like this. This is a great challenge and there is a learning curve that obviously he will have to deal with. Fortunately he is a fast learner,” Mr. Perkins said.

Assemblyman Dov Hikind said that Mr. Paterson’s key trait may be exactly what Albany needs right now.

“He is a sweetheart,” Mr. Hikind said. “But you can be nice and accomplish a lot, or you can be tough and not nice and accomplish very little. Look at the lesson of Eliot Spitzer. He was going to rock Albany, and look what happened. Nice guys can do very, very well.”