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Many names have already been mentioned to replace Clinton, including Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi.

"When asked whether it's important that a senator be from somewhere outside the New York City area," Paterson said Tuesday. "It's very important because the skill level can be the same among individuals, but there is history and familiarity that people have that come from different parts of the state or have unique backgrounds that we'd like to see in government."

Two upstate members of Congress, Kirsten Gillibrand and Brian Higgins, and Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown are being floated as potential successors.

According to sources, Senator Charles Schumer is angling for someone from upstate.

However, city-based politicians being considered include Congressmen Gregory Meeks and Jerry Nadler and Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez.

Paterson's choice is almost certain to face resistance from those with their own ideas about who would be best.

"Some people would want a female, others would want a Hispanic, and others will tell you politically the best thing to do is to select someone from upstate New York, since all elected officials on a statewide basis are from New York City," said Bronx Representative Jose Serrano.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg says the governor needs to consider other attributes.

"We need the best and the brightest and I think that should be the only criteria," he said Tuesday.

Brooklyn-Queens Congressman Anthony Weiner said it is important to have balanced federal representation, but that there is more than one way to achieve it.

"I think that the governor’s right. You do want to have a balance of representation," said Weiner. "I think the same way you can make an argument there should be an upstate person, you can argue that someone of Hispanic descent would be someone who would be helpful."

President-elect Barack Obama is expected to officially name his choice for secretary of state sometime after Thanksgiving.

Insiders say Paterson is unlikely to make his selection known until there's an official vacancy, which might not happen for a few months.