When Alan Van Capelle needed to know the legislative hopscotch that would lead the New York Assembly to pass gay marriage, he knew who'd be his best teacher: David Paterson, who'd been the state Senate Democratic leader before being elected lieutenant governor in 2006.

So over several late-night strategy sessions last year, the gay rights leader listened to Paterson help him plot his next jumps:

"David would say: 'I know this (Assembly) member is hearing from clergy who are ...

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