President Obama will do his part to assist the Democratic Party's efforts to hold its majority of the governorships when he headlines a fundraiser for the Democratic Governors Association next week. A DGA spokesperson said the organization expects to raise about $500,000 at the October 1 event at Washington's St. Regis Hotel.

DGA chair Brian Schweitzer of Montana and DGA vice chair Martin O'Malley of Maryland will be joined by at least four other Democratic incumbents -- Delaware's Jack Markell, Missouri's Jay Nixon, Kansas' Mark Parkinson and Kentucky's Steve Beshear -- for the event. Of that group, only O'Malley is on the ballot in 2010.

On Sunday, the New York Times reported that Obama aides last week asked New York Gov. David Paterson, who assumed the office after Eliot Spitzer's resignation in 2008, not to run for a full term in 2010. Paterson, who trails potential opponents in both the primary and general election in early polling, says he plans to run anyway, and recently hired Richard Fife to run his campaign.

The DGA is maintaining policy to support all Democratic incumbents. DGA press secretary Emily DeRose said Paterson is welcome at the Obama fundraiser, as are any of his fellow officeholders. The DGA has raised record funds this year, though Republicans have as well. The party holds 28 of the 50 governorships, with 20 of its seats up for grabs in 2010 in addition to the party's defense of New Jersey and Virginia this year.