The path to state Senator David Paterson’s election as lieutenant governor was cleared yesterday when the two chief Democratic candidates bowed out.

Just a week after gubernatorial candidate Eliot Spitzer selected Mr. Paterson as his running mate, Leecia Eve and Dr. Jon Cohen announced an end to their candidacies to make way for the Spitzer-Paterson ticket.

Mr. Spitzer’s choice of Mr. Paterson drew criticism in some Harlem circles because the senate minority leader had never publicly expressed interest in the job. Four prominent black leaders, including Mr. Paterson’s father, Basil Paterson, had already endorsed Ms. Eve, former counsel to Senator Clinton and the daughter of prominent black politician in Buffalo.

While both Ms. Eve and Dr. Cohen, the chief medical officer of the North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System, said their move was voluntary, others criticized the way Mr. Spitzer maneuvered to limit opposition.

Mr. Spitzer’s presumed Democratic challenger, Thomas Suozzi, the executive of Nassau County, called Mr. Paterson a “fine public servant,” but said he is “terribly disappointed” Ms. Eve is dropping out.

“New York State needs a more competitive political process,” Mr. Suozzi said. He has yet to select a running mate.

The chairman of Mr. Suozzi’s political committee, Jay Jacobs, said the party establishment should not dictate to voters on their “anointed candidates.”

“It’s a backroom deal and frankly it deprives voters of an opportunity to make their own determination,” said Mr. Jacobs, who is also chairman of Nassau County Democratic Party.

“The forcing of every other candidate out of the race smacks of backroom bossism,” he said.

Yesterday, Ms. Eve, who has been campaigning for 10 months, said, “No one forced my hand with respect to this decision.” She said that while it was a “difficult decision” to end her campaign, she will campaign for Mr. Spitzer between now and the election.

“I respect Eliot’s choice and support him unequivocally because I believe that he has been a wonderful attorney general,” she said told reporters at City Hall. Mr. Spitzer thanked her, but declined to discuss the “process.”

A few hours after Mr. Eve’s announcement, Dr. Cohen announced the end of his campaign.

He told The New York Sun he was being brought on as an unpaid health care advisor to Mr. Spitzer, a role he played for Carl McCall’s 2002 gubernatorial campaign and more recently for Senators Kerry and Edwards in their bid for the White House.

Dr. Cohen said his primary goal is getting a Democratic governor and that he doesn’t begrudge Mr. Spitzer.

Mr. Paterson, who is legally blind, is one of the most powerful black leaders in Albany and could help Mr. Spitzer woo minority voters. While many view him as a reformer, others say he is an Albany insider.

According to the Daily News, Mr. Paterson participated in a closed-door meeting last February with officials from the Oneida Indian Nation, who run the state’s largest casino and were lobbying to defeat a rival casino plan Gov. Pataki was pushing. The meetings were later open to the public.

At the time a top staffer at the New York Public Interest Research Group, Blair Horner, told the News, “This stinks to high heaven.”

The newspaper also reported that the Nation donated $5,000 to Mr. Paterson’s campaign in 2004 and $45,000 to the Senate Democratic Campaign Committee. And it said Mr. Paterson had two registered lobbyists on his payroll, The majority leader denied knowing they were lobbyists.

Yesterday Mayor Dinkins – who has known Mr. Paterson since he was “a little boy” but had committed to Ms. Eve – played down any problems with the way Mr. Spitzer chose his running mate. Last week, Mr. Dinkins and Rep. Charles Rangel said they had not been consulted about the decision and would stick with Ms. Eve through a primary.

Mr. Rangel was not available for comment yesterday, but Mr. Dinkins said the congressman supported the development.

When asked whether Ms. Eve would have a spot in his administration if elected, Mr. Spitzer said it would be “improper” to think in terms of staff now and that he would have those conversations only if elected.